We have all been there, waiting on the video meeting only to have no one join and to find out later that the person was having issues getting in. This can happen in a video interview. It can happen for both the candidate and the person doing the job interview. Or, there can be a technology issue that prevents the person from getting in. Regardless of the challenge, technology isn't perfect. Plan for the unexpected to happen in the interview and make sure that you have a backup plan - who and how to contact someone if the system doesn't work for the job interview. This will avoid the interviewer thinking that you didn't show or that you are late. Ask your contact at the company when scheduling the interview what to do or who to contact if there are any issues with the video interviewing system. This small step will save a ton of headaches and will be much appreciated by the people who are considering you as a potential colleague.
You have done all the prep for the interview, but have you tried to do it by video? Not testing out where and how you will interview is one of the most common mistakes. Testing your equipment, location, and delivery there will make a huge difference in how you perform. It will also enable you to proactively troubleshoot the common issues that can arise with video interviewing. Take the time to sit where you will sit for the interview and test your camera, sound, lighting, and practice some answers. Record yourself and watch the video feed. This will let you see how it looks on the other side and ensure that you are portraying the right image for your big interview.
As if interviewing for a job isn't stressful enough, it is always possible when doing it by video that technology can fail during the interview. In that case, the biggest mistake that people make is how they handle it and if they can recover. Whenever interviewing for a job by video, expect the unexpected and plan accordingly. Should the system fail or the connection get lost while in the midst of your answer, stop, breathe, and try to reconnect. Acknowledge the tech mishap and ask the people what they heard last. Don't hesitate to repeat yourself a little or to even repeat the question to remind everyone where you were before the technology issue. Also, before the interview, plan for how you will handle these challenges and make sure that you have a phone number or email of someone to call if the tech does fail.
It seems harder than it really is to forget the camera in the midst of the interview, but it definitely happens. This could be forgetting that people can't see what is happening off-camera. For example, petting your dog that comes up under the table and causes you to move inexplicably. Without explanation, this could look really odd to the person on the other side of the meeting. Others will look off camera at their notes or another screen without providing context. This makes you look distracted or bored when not looking at the person you are speaking to. So, make sure that you are narrating what is happening off-screen to let the interviewer(s) know.
Another way to forget about the camera is that many people will simply opt to follow the defaults of the system when they come into the video job interview. This can also be a mistake. You can change those defaults to opt to turn on/off your camera as well as the views on your screen. Use this functionality to your advantage to ensure that you are capable of seeing everyone in the meeting and that they can see you. And, remember, you are the one being interviewed for the job. So, the other people may not feel the need to turn on their cameras. This does not mean that you should keep yours off. The point of using video instead of phone for your job interview is often to meet you. Make sure that you remember this when configuring your presence in the meeting.
Finally, the biggest mistake that many candidates make when interviewing for a job by video is forgetting the entire point of the exercise. This is not another Zoom meeting. You are using the system to interview for a job. So, you need to prepare for the video job interview just like you would an in-person interview.
This starts with looking professionally and continues throughout the interview in how you interview. You also need to interact with everyone on the video interview the same way you would if you were on-site and in a manner that is consistent with how you want them to see you professionally. It is an interview for a job and it may feel more casual because it is in the place that you choose, but it is still an interview for a job.
Make sure that you bring the right mindset to the table when you join that meeting and do everything that you need to do to prepare fully for the job interview by whatever video platform the company uses.
Need help in preparing for your big interview? Get help from an expert coach that can answer all of your questions and help you to be as prepared as possible for your next job interview. Learn More.
]]>The first step in preparing for any job interview is always to return to the job description. Remember that not all job descriptions will stay out there forever. So, make sure that you keep a copy of the job description somewhere after you apply to the job so you can reference it during the interview process.
Re-reading the job description is foundational to starting your research for the job interview. The job posting will contain a lot of information about who the role reports to, what they do, what the requirements are, and probably some details about the position fit into the overall organization. These nuggets of information will give you a lot of insight into who to research, what products to review, and what details you should emphasize in the interview process.
You can take the insights gained from the job description to start researching the company, its products/business lines, and the people. The best place to start for this part of the process is the company's career page. It should give you a lot of information about the people that work there, the culture, and the overall expectations for its teams.
From there, you can dive deeper into other areas of the company website to find more specific information about the products or departments that the open role would work with. Keep in mind that all of the information on the company's website will be generally positive (as it should be). But, this data can give you a lot of insight into the overall business, the culture, and a glimpse into its strategic plan or challenges.
Take the information and details you gained from the job description and the company website or social media to run some online searches. This will give you insights into what others are saying about the company, its competitors, risks, and any other challenges the company or the industry is facing.
Start with some basic internet searches to learn what the company is doing. You can also use the filters on most search engines to limit the results down to the most recent information, news, or other relevant content. Depending on where you are at in the process, it may make sense to also set up some alerts so that you can receive the latest news on the organization.
From here, you could run some more advanced searches into the company's competition, lawsuits, funding, products, leadership, etc. Basically, you can go as deep as you want online into the company, its people, the business lines, the industry, and the risks. But, those insights will only get you so far as that will only cover the publicly available information. So, you should spend time here to better understand the opportunity. But, this is not the only way you should be researching before the interview.
The next step in this process is just as important as the online searches. This is where you turn your focus to the people involved in the process. First, start with your network. Who do you know at the company? The easiest way to figure this out is to use your LinkedIn or other professional networking profiles to do some quick searches. And, if you haven't already reached out to them in this process, now is the time.
Use your best judgment here, but reach out to the people that you already know and simply ask them for their insights into the company and the people you will be interviewing with. The conversation doesn't have to be a long one to provide you with some important insights into the opportunity and the company. And, it may be possible for your existing connection to serve as your internal advocate through the hiring process. This inside help can be invaluable to expediting the process and making sure that this is a role that you actually want.
Second, you can use LinkedIn and other social networking sites to do your research about the people that you will interview with. You can find a ton of information about people in advance with just some quick searches. For example, you could not only find where the person worked and went to school. But, you can also dive through their connections and find overlaps or people that you may also know. Or, you can find shared groups or interests online. These are easy talking points for you to incorporate into the interview to establish trust and credibility.
Doing this online research about the people that you will interview with can also help you to better assess if this role and company is a good fit for you. Meaning that the person that the role reports to may have very different interests from yourself or that they may have statements/activity on LinkedIn that raise some red flags. You can't leap to unfair conclusions, but you definitely can learn quite a bit going about someone online that will be invaluable when you go into that interview.
Now, you have tons of information and the time has come to put together a plan for your interview on how you will make the most of it. The first part of that process is to write out what you think the questions will be in the interview. Then, you should write out what you think your answers should be. Don't spend too much time on the writing part. The real value of this step is to prepare yourself as much as possible for the interview - whatever that may be for you.
Meaning that your written answers to these anticipated questions could be in the form of bullets, thoughts, or full sentences. Whatever form this takes, make sure that you do it in a way that you can re-use the notes so that you do not have to repeat the process for your next interview with the company. Thus, most people find value in creating a running document where they can add/change content and save it in a place where they can easily access it at any point of the interview process.
The final step in this process is to use the research and insights that you have gained to think about what questions you want to ask. You can ask a number of different types of questions, but they should be appropriate for the person that you are meeting with. For example, you wouldn't ask the recruiter in HR what the biggest challenges are for the department would be. Instead, you would ask the person in HR something about the role itself such as whether the role is new or if it is a backfill, what is the anticipated career path for someone with this job title, how long have people been on the team, etc. Thus, focus on the interests and knowledge are of the people are that you will meet with and craft your questions around things they can actually answer. You can do this while also incorporating the research that you gained online or through your conversations with people.
Remember, you are the person being interviewed. So, you probably won't have time for more than 5 questions. But, there will be some interviews where you will have time or be expected to ask more questions. Prepare for the interview with the assumption that you get 5 questions and plan to make them as strong as possible. And, have more questions ready to go if you get the chance. Plan to incorporate your research in those first 5. This will show off your research and the other questions that you have on deck can be broader in nature just in case you run out of time.
And, most importantly, make sure that you practice your answers and questions out loud. This will get you in the mindset of the interview and you will be ready to do your absolute best when the time comes.
]]>In building your answer to this question, it is important to first understand why this tough interview question gets asked. The role of the person interviewing you is to make sure that the best person is hired for the position. Most people who make it through the screening process are qualified for the role. Now, the people interviewing you will be evaluating your fit for their team, their company culture, and what they need in the organization. Thus, the interviewer will ask (or think) "Why Should I Hire THIS Person?"
The easiest way for anyone that is interviewing you is to simply ask. This gives the candidate the chance to answer it for themselves. The people that stand out are those that sell themselves for the role in a way that shows they are a fit for the company and the particular team. Thus, everyone interviewing for a job needs to prepare the best answer they can for this tough interview question and be ready to answer it directly or otherwise in each and every job interview.
Start building your answer to the question "Why Hire Me?" with a focus on the job that you are actually talking about. Stay focused on the particular company and job that you will actually be talking about in the interview. Begin this process by reading the job description again. Now, think about the following when building your answer:
Keep your answer relevant to the job and the person that you are talking to in the interview. The fastest way to lose any job is to steer off course or to give a generic answer to this question. Candidates that are able to show their ability to answer a direct question with a direct answer that effectively sells them as the best candidate will win the job every time. Why? Because they made the job of the interviewer easy. Do that by staying relevant to what the interviewer wants to know. Here are some things to think about in creating that answer:
Do not expect anyone to read your mind in the interviewing process. The best way to sell yourself when answer this question is to be clear about why you are the best fit for the job with this company. Do this by clearly articulating what makes you different from the competition and focus on how that will be helpful if you are selected for the job. A few ways to be clear in your answer without seeming arrogant are:
Finally, the best answers to this tough interview question are those that use examples and aren't just broad statements. Doing this enables the person interviewing you to emotionally connect and understand your answer better. So, use a combination of examples and broad statements in your answer. This will show the person exactly how you stand out and why you are the best fit for the job. A basic structure to do this in your answer is as follows:
I have [Soft Skill] that enables me to [Result]. I have done this repeatedly, for example, I [insert relevant example from your resume]. I believe that I can immediately repeat that same success here if selected for the opportunity.
Try to incorporate at least 2 skills and examples in your answer to the question "Why Hire Me?" This will strengthen your answer and increase the ability to resonate with the person. However, do not include more than 3 skills/examples here as your answer will be way too long and you will likely lose the attention of the person interviewing you.
Remember your audience as you are preparing for your next job interview. And, be ready to answer the question "Why Should I Hire You?" by focusing on what they want to know. Doing this will make the job of the interviewer easy. Craft your answer to this tough interview question by focusing on the specific job and company. Keep your answer relevant and focused by practicing it out loud. Make sure that you focus on your strengths and be ready to share them in a way that connects with your interviewer for the job that you are talking about.
]]>To understand how to recession-proof your career, it is important to first remember the difference between a career and a job. A career is everything you do over your professional life, a path or chosen field. A job, on the other hand, is the way you apply your professional skills for a particular organization to make money.
This difference is important to remember because jobs will come and go over your career - by choice or not. But, your career, or path, is something that you decide and build. This means that you should always strive to recession-proof your career because it will last longer than any recession.
To start recession-proofing your career, you should assess your skills and look for ways to always grow them. For many, this can be completing a degree or certification. You shouldn't rush into any academic or training program. Instead, look for credentials that advance your goals and that add value to your marketability for the long term.
Not every career requires a college degree and not all certifications are equal. So, carefully evaluate each credential and make sure to pursue the ones that matter. This can pay off at your current job, but also over the course of your career.
When cutbacks start to happen, it's time to build your career strategy. This means you need to be clear about your goals, know your value, and have a plan for your career. This can help you weather any storm - economic or otherwise.
Start by evaluating your skills and the future of your organization or industry. Look for the trends and decide how you can make yourself more valuable now and in the long term. Define your professional strategic plan and create a plan to tactically execute your goals. And, as noted above, this could require building your skills or relationships. Whatever it may be, start proactively to avoid being caught unexpectedly in the midst of layoffs.
In times of uncertainty, it's more important than ever to stay focused on your job and not get stuck doomsday scrolling. For now, your goal should be to keep doing your best at your current job and position yourself as indispensable. This will make you more essential at your current job and less likely to be laid off. Plus, staying focused at your job will enable you to build the relationships that will be key to staying in your current job and over the course of your career.
Applying your knowledge and building your skills through stretch assignments is key to building your professional value. If you're not being challenged at your job, start looking for ways to step up and take on additional responsibilities. These challenges can come in the form of taking on new projects, working with different teams, or learning new technologies.
Pursuing growth opportunities can help you make a case for a promotion or pay raise when the time is right. But, it can also help you recession-proof your career by building the skills that will be in demand over the course of your career.
While it's important to have a well-rounded skillset, you should also build your niche, or unique value proposition. This combination of your skills, experience, and knowledge makes you unique and valuable in your field. It's what sets you apart from others with similar credentials or professional backgrounds.
Constantly look for ways to build your niche and stay top of mind as the thought leader in your area. You can do this by taking on projects that allow you to use these skills, pursuing training or education in this area, or networking with others in your field.
The goal is to become an expert in your niche so that you're the go-to person when companies are looking for someone with your specific skillset.
Although it may not feel like it, times of uncertainty can actually be a great opportunity to advance your career. If you're open to change and willing to seize new opportunities, you may find that this time period brings about positive changes in your career that you never would have thought possible before. So stay open-minded, be proactive, and use this time of uncertainty as an opportunity to improve your career prospects instead of dwelling on all the negative things that could happen.
A recession-proof career means that you are ready to move to the next job at any time. This requires you to keep an updated resume so you can share it with people when the time is right. Take the time now to update your resume if you haven't lately.
Not have the time to complete your resume? Companies like The Contingent Plan have professional resume writers that would love to help update your resume.
Your online presence matters more than most people realize when it comes to looking for jobs. Make sure your LinkedIn profile is up-to-date and includes all of your most recent experience.
First, this is because recruiters actually use it to look for people like yourself to fill their open jobs. An incomplete or improperly built profile means that you will not show up in the searches by recruiters. Thus, they can't reach out to you if you aren't visible.
Second, the people in your field can make a huge difference in your career. Take the time to grow your network and engage people. Send out connection invites, join relevant groups, and follow companies you're interested in. This will help you build your network and stay top of mind when opportunities come up.
Not sure where to start with your LinkedIn profile? Our professional profile writers would love to help. Learn more here.
Knowing what else is out there is key to knowing your value in your current job. It's also a key part of being prepared to find a new job if you need to.
Take some time to look at job postings in your field. See what companies are looking for and what they're willing to pay. This will help you understand your worth and what you should be asking for in your current position. It will also help you be prepared to look for a new job if the time comes.
You can use sites like Indeed, LinkedIn, or even Google to find job postings that fit your skillset or identify what skills you are missing.. You can also see what companies are paying for similar roles or, even better, start to create concrete plans for your career.
Your professional network is one of your most valuable assets, so stay connected with them even if you're not actively looking for a new job. Attend industry events, participate in online discussion forums, and connect with old colleagues on LinkedIn. These connections could come in handy if you find yourself out of a job unexpectedly. And who knows? You might even get lucky and hear about a great new opportunity before it's publicly announced!
During times of economic upheaval, it is important to be prepared financially. The traditional advice is to have an emergency fund that can cover 3-6 months of living expenses in case you lose your job. That's not always possible, but you can start to save and cut back on expenses now to build some savings should you need it.
Uncertainty is a fact of life, but it can be especially difficult to deal with during periods of economic upheaval like we're currently experiencing. If you're worried about losing your job or being unable to find new employment, follow the tips above to help make your career more recession-proof. And remember, while it's important to take precautions during times of turmoil, don't let fear control your life—use this opportunity as a chance to seize new opportunities and advance your career!
Overwhelmed and not sure where to start? Our career experts would love to help. Enter your information below and our team will be in touch to talk about how we may be able to help recession-proof your career.
]]>A lot of people confuse an endorsement with a recommendation on LinkedIn. Recommendations on LinkedIn are quite different than the endorsements. An endorsement on LinkedIn is someone in your network saying that you have a particular skill. The endorsement does not contain custom text, instead, the person is simply giving you a thumbs up for a particular skill in the skills section on LinkedIn.
However, a recommendation is much more as it is basically a review of you. It stays on your profile indefinitely and you can only get one from each person. The person providing the recommendation has to be on LinkedIn and they have to publish the recommendation that will show up on your profile. This public statement about your abilities can carry a lot of weight for your career and savvy talent acquisition people use this to make decisions about candidates.
Neither of these fields (endorsements or recommendations) is typically integrated with the ATS. Instead, the people evaluating you as a potential candidate will use the recommendations to research you. Thus, this is why the time spent on getting quality recommendations can make a big difference in your job search and career trajectory overall.
Thinking about who to ask is just as important as how to ask the person for the LinkedIn recommendation. Use some strategy to find a cross-section of people to provide the recommendations for your profile. Remember the following when reaching out to people for a recommendation on LinkedIn:
*You Must Be Connected. The person providing the recommendation on your LinkedIn profile must be connected with you. Thus, many people will have to send out connection invites first before requesting the invite.
*Up, Down, and Across. Asking a cross-section of people for a recommendation means asking people that were your boss or supervisor, but also asking people who were your colleagues or people that worked with you on projects. If you have led people, you should also ask someone that reported to you. You do this because each person can say something different about you and that public statement goes a long way with your search.
*Be Ready to Give to Get. Many people will say sure, if you do one for them as well. That's completely fair and you should be ready to return the favor. Not sure that you want to provide the person a recommendation in return? Then, you may be better off asking someone else for the recommendation in the first place.
Once you know who you are going to ask, then you should ask the person for the recommendation. You may want to send the person an email, text, or call the person to ask them for the recommendation. In doing this, you can also give them the heads-up about WHY you are asking for the recommendation and what you are hoping they will cover in the recommendation. You may also get additional questions in this process about why you are asking for the recommendation in the first place, so giving the person the heads-up in a regular communication channel that you typically use to communicate with that person will enable you to address those items more effectively. And, depending on who the person is and how open you are with your objectives, you may find that you can avoid some unnecessary complications in the process.
There are lots of reasons why and when people ask for recommendations - and they aren't all about a job search. In fact, many people do it regularly in their career to capture a testimonial about a big project or success. So, getting into this habit now will make it less awkward in the future and make it easier for people to provide them to you without presuming you are looking for a new job.
The key to getting any recommendations on your LinkedIn profile is that you must ask someone directly. Tell them that you would appreciate it if they could take a minute to complete the recommendation for your profile. If it makes sense, you could also provide some context about what you are doing now and what you would like to highlight in that recommendation.
However you ask, you will most likely need to follow up with the person to get the recommendation. Remember, people aren't waiting around for the opportunity to give you a recommendation. So, be patient and make sure that you follow up in a professional manner if they haven't completed it.
Many people will be happy to give you a recommendation on LinkedIn when asked. But, they may not be sure what to say or how to say it. In that case, it is perfectly fine to give the person guidance on the process and to even offer assistance when asked. You can do this in a couple of ways.
First, when you make the ask, you could provide some guidance in the request. For example, you could say
"It was great working with you on the Smith project. I would really appreciate it if you could take a minute to provide me with a LinkedIn recommendation for me about our work together on this big initiative."
For many people, this will be enough to give them a hint about what you are hoping they will cover. Or, if you are open about your search with the person, you can say something like
"I am actively in the process of pursuing a new position where I can focus on the type of work we did together on the Johnson program. I would appreciate it if you could complete a recommendation for me on LinkedIn."
Second, depending on the person and your search, you may want to send the person a few links to jobs that you are pursuing. In doing so, you could tell the person that you are pursuing these types of roles and that you would appreciate help in providing a recommendation on your LinkedIn profile. Most people will then skim through the information you provide, use that information in preparing a recommendation, and they may even provide some help in pursuing those roles.
Not everyone will say yes when asked to provide a LinkedIn recommendation. This can feel like quite the blow to your ego. But, in most cases, this isn't personal. It can often be the result of the policies of their employer that can preclude them from providing any such recommendations. While these policies may seem unfair, there are often important reasons behind them - like compliance, contractual obligations, and conflicts of interest.
Whatever the reason may be, the person that says no will likely feel bad about not being able to help you out with a LinkedIn recommendation. So, instead of getting frustrated about their inability to help in the way you wanted, use the opportunity to open up the conversation about other ways the person may be able to help. Like to provide employee referrals to jobs that you want, serve as a professional reference (not on LinkedIn), or make introductions to other people that can help. So, don't let one setback keep you from thinking about the big picture. Instead, focus on finding ways to turn the no conversation into a yes that may actually matter more in your search or career overall.
Want to put your best foot forward before asking for recommendations on LinkedIn? Have a professional LinkedIn profile writer create the content for your profile today. Get Help Now.
]]>The point of a cover letter is to tell your story to the potential employer about why you are a good fit for their open job. Make sure that you focus the cover letter on the relevant parts of your story that makes the employer want to schedule an interview.
Focus on the highlights and make sure that you are not telling your entire lifestory. The best practice for any cover letter is to give an overview of your resume in a way that sparks the interest of the person skimming your cover letter. The cover letters aren't typically parsed by the ATS. So, make sure that you are making it easy for the person to see how your story is a good fit for their needs.
People are skimming the cover letters if they are reading them at all. So, focus your message on what details matter the most. In many cases, when trying to change careers, the best practice is to focus on the similarities in your experience and how that positions you for success in the new role or industry. You can do that by explicitly providing examples or outlining exactly how you are qualified for their open job.
You also should make sure that the cover letter connects the dots for the person skimming the cover letter. Tell them EXACTLY how your experience translates and why you think it makes you a good fit. Do not expect the person to make inferences. Instead, use this opportunity to tell them how your background fits their needs and provide illustrations of that whenever possible.
Use the cover letter as an opportunity to address some of the obvious questions that someone will have when reviewing your application. You can do this strategically if you think about the cover letter as a written interview. In fact, you can address their likely concerns about you as a candidate so that they want to give you an interview. In many cases, you will never get the chance to talk to someone unless you first address those concerns in the application process.
Some obvious questions to consider in your cover letter for a career change are:
*Why make this change now?
*Why have you stayed in your prior career as long as you have?
*What makes you think that you can make the change?
*How do your skills translate to their opening?
*Who have you spoke to at the company already about the job?
*Have you ever worked with people at the company or its clients before?
Every good cover letter should answer the question of why? Why are you applying to this job at this company and why do you think you are a good fit? This is where you can connect the specific details of your experience to the specific needs of the position or company.
In many cases, people changing careers should focus on how their skills translate to the opening. This could be that you have done this type of work before but have never been able to focus on it in your prior roles. Or, that your prior roles have built the technical or people skills and now you want to focus them in the new industry/organization. Whatever your reasons are, make sure that you are clear in the cover letter about why it is that you want this job and why you are a fit.
Remember that people will not make these inferences for you, so make sure that you are clear in the cover letter about what it is that you want and why you think this role could be the right next step in your career.
]]>So, all professionals need a strong LinkedIn profile to effectively keep track of and engage with their network. Building a LinkedIn profile that best reflects your professional brand requires a clear message and visuals to illustrate what you do and who you are professionally. The first visual that everyone will see on your profile is the background photo. The following explains how to select and add a background photo that makes your LinkedIn profile stand out.
The background photo (or cover photo) on your LinkedIn profile is that little box above your profile photo. This is often a flat, green box. Most people miss the opportunity to add a photo here and they are missing a huge opportunity to immediately connect with their audience.
The best photos are clear, high-resolution images. A poor resolution or bad pick can hurt your profile by sending the wrong message. For most people, it is better to pick an image that is not branded or that contains a logo.
The basic stats for this photo are key to picking the right image. The recommended LinkedIn background photo dimensions are 1584 x 396 pixels. Try to maintain a 4:1 aspect ratio for a bigger or smaller image than the recommended dimensions. The supported file formats for a background photo are JPG, GIF, and PNG.
Remember, the photo will follow you across the LinkedIn platform. This image will automatically adjust to different devices and formats. This is why it is better to pick photos or images without a lot of text in them. Cleaner, more modern images will display better across all the ways that people can see your profile.
Picking the wrong image is worse than picking no image at all for your LinkedIn profile background photo. The point of including an image is to select something that helps to illustrate your message as a professional. Here are the common mistakes to avoid when selecting your LinkedIn background photo:
The fact that many people still don't pick an image for their LinkedIn banner will work to your advantage if you pick the right one. You will have an instant, visual cue to the person scrolling your profile that should engage them to continue reading or to reach out to you.
Personal brands are tricky and finding the right visual for that brand can take some time. Everyone is unique and we all have different messages to convey. Here are some ideas for effective types of images to illustrate your personal brand through your LinkedIn background photo.
Make sure to add your selected image to your LinkedIn profile. To do this, make sure the file is in the right dimensions before you start. Now, to add your background photo to your LinkedIn profile you simply need to:
You will then be given the option to reposition the image and to make other spacing adjustments in LinkedIn. Make your selections and hit save. Now, you have a great background photo on your LinkedIn profile that will help you to stand out to anyone that visits.
Want to make the most of your LinkedIn profile? Get help from an expert to build a LinkedIn profile that maximizes your visibility so it can start working for you. Learn More.
]]>The additional questions asked by employers during the interview process are a screening tool. Employers can opt to add specific questions when they post a job on their careers page or on commercial job boards. These questions can range from simple Y/N to complex multiple-page answers. In each case, the employer had decided to ask these questions to filter candidates using a tool beyond the resume. In many cases, the employer will be asking these questions to determine if they should even look at your resume. Accordingly, you must answer the question completely in order to have an opportunity t make it to the next step in the process.
The additional questions in the job application process are increasingly common. Most job boards now include a step in the process where they suggest additional questions to the person posting the job. As a result, there are now fields in the applicant tracking systems of employers to capture this data from the job boards. So, it has become easier for employers to require applicants to complete this additional step.
The simple or more straightforward questions are often found on the commercial ob boards (i.e. Indeed, LinkedIn, Ziprecruiter, etc.). So, you will find these types of direct screening questions by most employers now when they post a job.
However, the more involved questions are also increasing. For a long time, this was most common with government job applications. However, more employers in the private sector are using these additional, more complex questions in their application processes. It is seen as a tool to filter out candidates based on fit, skill, and commitment. These are frequently asked in the job posting or on the organization's career site. You may or may not be able to upload additional documents with these answers. There may also be character or page limits tied to these answers. Regardless of form or location, you need to fully answer these questions to have a chance at an interview for the position.
All employers use those additional job application questions to filter candidates. This happens for a couple of reasons. First, with the ease of online applications and the Great Resignation, the number of candidates applying to jobs has skyrocketed. So, employers use the additional job applications to sift through all of those applications.
Second, employers understand that candidates may not know what they are looking for on your resume or that you won't customize it for each job. So, employers use these additional questions to filter candidates because they don't want to rely on the ATS to find the most important details about the candidate. Thus, the additional applications questions are designed to give the applicants the chance to say whether they meet the qualifications for the job.
Third, the employer may ask more involved questions as a written job interview. These employers are looking to evaluate your writing skills, your fit for their organization, and your ability to do the job. You will need to convey all of the key details in your answer to convince the person reading your answer that they should interview you.
With this in mind, the following breaks down exactly how to answer the additional job application questions.
The right way to answer the additional job application question will depend on the specific question that is being asked. Fundamentally, these questions fall into a few categories. Below is the right way to answer each type of question that employers can be asked.
The most common additional job application question is the Yes or No. This is a simple answer that indicates whether you meet a particular qualification or not. You shouldn't overrepresent yourself in answering this question. You either have the particular skill or experience or you don't. And, if you find that you are answering no to any of these additional qualifying job applications, then you are probably wasting your time in completing the application. This is because the employer has probably set the system to automatically reject applications that do not meet the required qualifications.
However, if there is ambiguity or you have an argument to be made that you do have such experience, then it is ok to say yes so you get the chance to explain that answer. This will enable the employer to make their own determination on your qualifications for the position.
The multiple-choice answer should also be pretty clear in how to answer it. You should be honest in making your selection. The options may not perfectly fit your experience or skills, but you should pick the option that is as close as possible. You should also make sure that your resume matches up with the options that you are choosing. If not, there's a chance that the employer will reject your application in the review stage as it isn't clear how you meet the requirements.
Employers will also ask some job application questions that require a little information. These free-type answers will have limited characters and are looking for the candidate to get right to the point. In answering these questions, make sure that you include the information that directly answers the question that is asked. Do not simply type "See Resume" here. If that is all the employer wanted to do, then they wouldn't have taken the time to ask the additional job application question. Instead, include the details that the employer is looking for so that you incentivize the employer or its applicant tracking system to look at your resume.
Make sure that you keep a copy of the question that is asked and your typed answer. You can expect that this topic will come up in some fashion in the interviewing process. Not all ATS programs will enable you to see the answers that you submit in the application process after you hit submit. So, keeping a copy of the question asked by the employer and your answer in a word document will help in your preparations for the interview with the organization.
There are some additional job application questions that employers ask to gain clarity in your prior answers to their other questions. This could be an explanation of why you picked "Other" in a multiple-choice question or to provide additional detail on your experience level in a particular area that was covered by the question.
Regardless of why it was asked, to answer these types of job application questions, you will need to enter complete sentences and provide the information the employer is looking for. Make sure that you do so with proper grammar, correct spelling, and that the answer fully and directly answers the question asked. You cannot presume that the person reading your answer will make any inferences. Instead, you need to provide all relevant information in the space provided. And, as noted in the prior question type, you should keep a copy of this answer to aid in your interview prep or other applications.
The knowledge-based job application questions are included by employers to determine if the candidate has the requisite skill to do the job. This could be asked in a couple of different ways. First, the question may be to simply test if you have used the concept or skill in your prior experience. So, to answer this question, you need to convey your knowledge in the particular field that is being covered. You also need to provide details about where you have used that knowledge professionally.
To do that, include specific information about your job title, the organization where you worked, and how you used the skill. Include information in this answer about all the times and places that you have used this skill. If this skill is present across your professional experience, then be sure to include examples of how you use the skill or knowledge professionally.
The other way this question could be asked is to assess your knowledge or perception of the particular concept. This could be posed in the form of a skills test. Thus, this type of knowledge-based question isn't looking for where or when you used the concept covered. Instead, it is looking for your mastery of the concept and how you use it or your overall working methods. In that case, focus on the question that is being asked and make sure that you treat it like a skills test. Take the time to think through the process and include all of that detail in your answer to the employer.
Start your work on this question in a separate document and then copy it into the field or upload the document in response. This will save you a lot of time and probably frustration in the process.
The final type of common job application question is one that is intended to assess your fit for the job, the team, and the company. This could be a situational question "Tell me about a time that you X" or it could be something aimed at your personality or work style. However the question is posed, make sure that you are answering the question that is being asked.
Just like in an interview, it can be easy to read into the question or to get stuck in thinking about what someone wants to hear. Instead, focus on answering the question honestly and fully. And, consider including an example in response to these types of questions to provide context to your overall written answer on how you apply that skill or trait in the workplace.
This is particularly important because you don't want to progress with a company where you aren't a fit. Doing so would probably only lead to more stress than it is worth and another job search in the near future. So, focus on answering these fit-based questions with honesty. And, if you can tell from the question that it isn't a fit, then move on and look for another job to apply to. Ultimately, your job search time is better spent where you are moving towards a job and organization where you want to be in the future.
Don't skip over those additional questions when you see them the next time you apply to a job. Remember, employers use these questions as filters to determine who to interview from those candidates they receive. You can save time in this process by keeping a running document with these questions and your answers. This will save you time with future applications and with your preparations for job interviews. So, invest a little more time now so that you can get the interview and you will already be prepared for it.
Want help with your written answers to those additional job applications? Get help from our professional writers today.
]]>Not always. This may seem shocking to some, but a cover letter is no longer expected with every application. In fact, many companies have removed the ability to submit a cover letter in their online application systems. But, here is what you need to know about when to write a cover letter.
It is important to first understand what a cover letter is before determining when it should be used. The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines the phrase "Cover Letter" as
a letter that is sent with something to explain the reason for it or to give more information about it
This simple definition says a lot about what the letter is not - it is not a letter repeating the contents. Instead, the cover letter is to EXPLAIN why you are sending it or to GIVE MORE information about the contents. In the case of a job application, this would be to explain the contents of your resume as it relates to the position that you are applying to.
The easiest answer to this question about when to submit a cover letter is when it is required by the particular job. In fact, this requirement can show up in the job description or as a required field in the online application. In many cases, the required cover letter will also include specific questions or information that the company wants to see in the cover letter.
You must submit a cover letter when it is required. You must also follow the directions for the cover letter when submitting it. Failure to do so may prevent you from completing the application or having your application reviewed. Many employers will add specific requirements to their cover letters or applications to pre-screen applicants. This could be to test the person's real interest in the position or to evaluate their ability to follow the directions. Whatever the reason, the requirement to submit the cover letter with any information requested will be necessary to be considered for the job.
Another time when you can submit a cover letter is when the cover letter is optional. This is not a requirement to completing the application. The option for a cover letter can show up in a couple of different ways. First, there may be no mention of cover letters in the job description, but there may be an optional field to attach additional documents or an optional field to copy/paste a cover letter.
You can choose to submit a cover letter if there is a way to do so. Many people will use this opportunity to submit the optional cover letter to cover something that they can't address on the resume or to tell their story about why they are applying. Electing not to submit the cover letter is not always viewed negatively. In fact, you may not always have the option to submit a cover letter. So, before spending time on a cover letter, make sure you check to see if there is actually a field to upload one when applying online.
The other time when you should submit a cover letter is when you are sending the application by email. The email you send to the person receiving the application will be, by definition, a cover letter. However, an email transmitting your resume should be much, much shorter than the typical cover letter. There is a real person that is getting this email and they won't want to read a lot of content in an email message. Instead, the best practice for an email transmission of your resume is no more than 3 - 5 sentences. Keep the message to the point to tell the person why you are sending the email, why you are interested, and why you are a good fit.
Sometimes, it makes sense to also attach a lengthier cover letter as an additional attachment to the email transmitting the resume. This could be because it is required by the job description or because you have more to say and want to share the information with the people making the hiring decision. Remember, the person receiving the email is not always the person who will make the hiring decision. They may be an assistant to the hiring manager or they may be the person serving as the HR person for the team or department. So, it may make sense to include additional information in the form of an attachment for the person to print and share with the hiring committee. However, be careful with how much you attach to the email as people won't always opt to download all of the attachments.
There are also times when you should not write a cover letter. The most obvious times are when there is no way to submit the cover letter. Companies are increasingly removing this field from their online application systems. They do this because they don't want a cover letter (or because the system hasn't been set up to allow it). In that case, you are simply wasting your time if you try to write a cover letter.
You should also not send a cover letter if it is completely generic. A generic cover letter will easily be spotted by the recruiter (if they read it) and can result in your application being rejected. Instead, if you are going to send a cover letter make sure that you take the time to do it right. As noted above, the definition of the cover letter is to explain the reason for sending the application or to give additional information. So, if you aren't building a cover letter that meets the definition of a cover letter, then you should simply not send the cover letter.
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]]>The cover letter is a part of your first impression and can be a helpful way to set the tone for your message. If you are going to write a cover letter, then make sure that you incorporate the relevant, specific details on it. Here are some of the details to consider including in your next cover letter:
A cover letter is not typically parsed by the applicant tracking system (ATS) used by employers. Instead, it will be viewed by a person (if at all). You should include some of the keywords on the cover letter if it comes directly from the job description or it otherwise helps your application. However, the real focus of your cover letter should be on your audience - the recruiter, the hiring manager, and anyone else that may be involved in the hiring process. This audience can vary in terms of what they want to see in the next candidate or on the materials submitted by the candidate. Make sure that you are addressing the items that most people will want to see on your cover letter to ensure that they can quickly see why they should interview you.
The cover letter should be consistent with the language and style of your resume. It should be able to stand on its own, but the cover letter should also be consistent with your overall message for the job application. Here are ways that you can do that in your next cover letter:
Smart candidates will use the cover letter as a way to showcase their skills. The easiest way to do that is to do your research and incorporate it on the cover letter. You don't need to inundate the recruiter with factoids on the cover letter. Instead, the best strategy is to incorporate relevant information that enhances your information. For example, if you are a sales professional, then use the cover letter as a pitch for yourself in the same way that you would pitch the company's products or services. This includes doing the legwork to get the meeting with the decision-makers like you would do with any other sales opportunity. Or, you could simply incorporate references to the people that you know at the organization and what they have said about the job/company.
However you decide to proceed, make sure that the research and how you use it is consistent with your overall message and value. Don't force the research in your letter and make sure that the cover letter stays focused on you and why you are a good fit for this role at this company.
A great cover letter is simple, to the point, and makes it clear why you are a good fit for the job. This is a professional piece that should connect the audience with you. Remember that actual people will skim the resume - not bots. So, make sure that the cover letter showcases your message and skills in a way that someone who doesn't know you will understand. A great cover letter is always focused on the reader and it uses the opportunity to create interest in the candidate. Keep your cover letter focused on your core message to the particular audience and you will start getting more interviews.
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]]>Most employers use the applicant tracking system (ATS) for resumes. These systems do not typically parse the cover letter for keywords. In fact, they often go into different places in the ATS. That cover letter may not even get passed on to the hiring manager in the hiring process. So, you have to think about the cover letter differently than the resume.
Remember that a cover letter is simply a highlight reel of your resume. It should hit on the highlights of your career to convince the person to contact you for an interview. To do this, you will want to include some of the keywords from the job posting or the company's career page to show that you are a fit for what they want.
This doesn't mean copying/pasting everything from the job description. Instead, focus on what matters - the qualifications (required and preferred). Frame up your most relevant achievements and experiences in a way that shows you are qualified for the job opening. Using the language from the job description or from the company shows that you have done your research and that you aren't using a generic letter.
The cover letter is your chance to tell your story, quickly, to the person skimming it. Meaning that you will want to focus on the key information so that they want to schedule an interview to learn more. You can't convey all the details in it. Instead, keep the message focused and targeted.
You can do this easily by connecting the 2 biggest achievements or experiences with the requirements in the job. You can call attention to those big talking points right away in the letter to focus on what makes you a strong candidate.
Consider using bullets on the cover letter as well. This will make it easy for the person skimming your cover letter to quickly see the skills and points that you want them to read. Make sure that you connect those skills to the job you are applying to and to use examples from your resume in the explanation of how you are a good fit for the role or how you have shown those skills.
At most, the cover letter should be 1 page. As with anything, there are exceptions. But, most people expect that a cover letter will not be more than 1 page of text. It can also be shorter. Or, you may not even need to do it at all (Check out this blog with the answer to whether an optional cover letter is optional)
As noted above, the entire point of a cover letter is to give the person skimming it an opportunity to see why you are a good fit for the open job. The most effective way to do this is to treat the cover letter like a written interview where you are answering the question why? Why are you applying to this position at this company? And, why do you want this job?
You may not know much about the job or the company beyond the information in the job description. So, answering the question why can be particularly challenging. Depending on the types of jobs that you are pursuing, it may not be necessary to include anything particularly specific in the cover letter. However, the more you want to be paid, the more customization and specifics are expected in the cover letter. Meaning that the higher you are in terms of title or experience, the more that your audience will expect in terms of specific answers to this why question.
An effective way to answer the why question is to also answer the obvious questions the person may have about your experience. Have you been at a company for a long time? In that case, you will likely be asked why you are looking to make a change now and why are you considering this organization? Have you been out of work for a while? In that case, answer the question of what you have been doing and why you are looking to get back now.
At the same time, do not overthink the answer to the why question. The people skimming your cover letter understand that the process is just starting. So, they don't expect perfection or a fully complete answer. Instead, they are looking for the highlights about why you could be a good fit and what prompted you to pursue this role. Keep this in mind when building your next cover letter. You should be specific, but you don't have to (and should not) tell your life's story here. Instead, give the person a preview of why they should contact you to discuss further.
Customizing cover letters can take a lot of time. Have an expert write all of your cover letters so that you can focus your job search time on what matters most. Learn More.
]]>Employers use applicant tracking systems (ATS) to find and filter their candidates through the hiring process. Over 97% of all Fortune 500 companies and over 70% of all other companies use an ATS. Even those that don't use an official ATS are using commercial job boards like Indeed or Ziprecruiter like an ATS. So, if you are applying online to jobs then your resume is going through an ATS.
The applicant tracking system is the employer's database of all the people that have applied to its open jobs. Recruiters and talent acquisition professionals actively search this database to find and communicate with the people that have applied for the jobs.
The ATS also has a number of automations that are intended to make the jobs of recruiters and talent acquisition professionals jobs easier. These automations include the automatic rejection of candidates that do not meet the requirements of the open position based on the words on their resume and candidate profile.
What does this mean? It means that the ATS are scanning your resume and candidate profile for certain information to determine if you are qualified for the job that you applied to. If this content does not appear on your resume and/or in your candidate profile, then you will not be deemed qualified for the job that you applied for. Instead, you will probably receive one of those fast responses via email or text that "although your credentials are impressive" the employer is not proceeding with your application.
The number of applications has skyrocketed. This means that the recruiter cannot spend the time in most cases to review all of the applications. So, most HR people rely on the ATS and will not even look at the applications that were automatically rejected. Instead, they have to focus their efforts on qualified candidates. This means that the recruiter is using the fields in the ATS to search for the people that meet the requirements. Thus, candidates that show up in these searches are those that set up their candidate profiles fully and submitted ATS compliant resumes with the right information for the jobs they are pursuing.
On average, about 75% of resumes are automatically rejected by the ATS. Keep reading to find the tips on what to do and what to avoid when submitting your resume in order to land the interview and not get stuck in the ATS black hole.
The following are what to avoid on your resume and in its submission if you want to get through the resume bots and land an interview.
The applicant tracking systems scan the words on the resume for keywords. These keywords can be pre-determined by the ATS or customized by the recruiter. Forgetting these keywords or using the wrong keywords on your resume is the fastest way to be deemed unqualified by the applicant tracking system.
Love a pretty font? Too bad the ATS can't read these styles. The ATS is scanning the words on the page to determine if you are qualified for a job. It doesn't care what font is used, but it must be able to read the font. Using a font that is overly curvy or graphic will make it impossible for the ATS to interpret the information you are trying to convey.
Submitting your resume in Word or Pages format can cause more problems than you realize. First, these formats contain information embedded in them about who created the files, when the file was created, how long was spent on editing the document, etc.. You probably don't want the recruiter to know this level of detail (and it is not hard to find).
Second, most companies do not use Pages (Apple's equivalent of Microsoft Word or Google Docs) widely in their operations. So, most ATS do not effectively (if at all) scan the Pages format.
Spend a lot of time building the perfect infographic or finding the best graphics for your resume? Chances are good that the applicant tracking system scanning your resume can't read the information properly - if at all. The ATS programs are all driven by the words on the page NOT by the visuals. So, building a pretty resume will often result in one of those automated rejections when applying to jobs online.
The title of the resume file can also matter. Recruiters will often download the file to their desktop and then upload it to their ATS. Their computers will simply write over the existing "Resume" files when they save the next one to their device. So, in this case, your resume will never even make it to the ATS unless the recruiter takes the time to rename the file for you.
The online applications can take forever and seem like you are completing a lot of the same information over and over. It can be tempting to simply say "See Resume." However, many companies treat these online applications as official job applications and will not accept submissions with the "See Resume."
The fields where you enter this information can also serve as searchable fields by recruiters who review candidates to determine if they want to open the person's resume. So, if you simply say "See Resume" you can make the decision easy to reject your application.
Skipping over the fields in the online submission process can also kill your job application. These fields may be the official job application and be required by the company to determine if you meet their requirements or culture. Or, as noted above, the talent acquisition team may use these fields to determine if they want to review the person's resume. And, leaving these fields blank is a missed opportunity to convince the person or the system that you are a fit for the job. This is why skipping the fields in the application process is frequently a fast track to an automatic rejection.
Candidates with an employee referral are 4x more likely to land the job. And, in many cases, these candidates will automatically be shortlisted for an interview. Forgetting to reference your referral source in the application or asking your contact for help in the application process means that the ATS and recruiting team won't know about your connection. In that case, you probably won't get the benefit of your referral.
Now that you know what to avoid, the following covers everything you should do when submitting your resume for those online job applications.
Pick the right keywords for your resume to ensure that you show up as qualified for the jobs that you are applying for. This means looking at the job description and using those words on your resume if appropriate. These words will determine if your resume makes it through the applicant tracking system.
Build a resume that works with the applicant tracking systems. This means no graphics or heavy formatting. It also means putting details under the professional experiences to show the systems what you did where.
And, make sure that the ATS-friendly resume will also work with the people that will skim the resume. Make sure that the people who will likely interview you can connect with your experience when they skim the resume. So, build an ATS-compliant resume that also works with the people who will make the hiring decisions.
The font you choose will not improve your visibility with the ATS or the hiring manager. But, it can hurt your application.
Select a font for your resume that is easy to read by the ATS and the people who will skim it. Keep it basic like Arial, Calibri, Garamond, or other similar fonts. This will ensure that your resume can be read by the ATS so that your information can get into the system the right way.
Your resume file should be submitted in pdf format unless the instructions say otherwise. And, make sure that you name the file completely. This means putting your name on the resume file and including the job title or key talking points. Alternatively, you could include the requisition number in the name of your resume file. This would help with tracking your applications if you are pursuing multiple roles at the same company.
For example:
"John Smith - Experienced Business Development Manager"
OR
"John Smith - Business Development Manager Req ID 55555"
The applicant tracking systems should be able to parse the contents of your resume to help pre-fill the application fields. But, even the best-built resume can't be read perfectly. So, make sure that you spend the time to reformat the content in each field so that it can be read properly by the systems or people that will review it.
This is important for a couple of reasons. First, it will show the skills that you likely are trying to communicate that you have (i.e. detailed, direct, thorough, etc.). Second, it will ensure that all of the right information is getting into the employer's systems.
To minimize the time that you spend reformatting, keep a version of your resume that is plain text. Use this version of your resume only for purposes of reformatting or completing the fields for the online applications. It will save you tons of time overall.
You can copy/paste the information from your resume into the fields. This can be after the resume has been parsed by the ATS. Or, you can choose to complete the online application this way without uploading your resume. Whatever way you choose, make sure that you are copying and pasting over all of the information from your resume to complete the fields.
As the candidate, you don't know who uses the information or how it will be searched in the system later. In many cases, these details are used to determine if you meet the basic requirements for the job. So, the best way to show up as qualified is to input all of the information requested and to do so honestly.
You must answer all of the questions when applying to jobs online. It is definitely redundant and time-consuming, but this can be the only way to land the interview.
Take the time to think about ways that you can make completing all of those online applications easier for yourself. For example, as noted above, you could create a plain text version of your resume to use when completing those online fields.
Second, you could create a running document to keep track of all those additional job applications that are asked. You can use this to compile your answers and to reformat them for future applications. This will prevent you from repeating the same work over and over.
Third, think about the jobs that you are applying for and make sure that you are spending your time wisely. If you have applied to several jobs at the same company with no response, then the time may have come to move on. Or, if you aren't getting any response after a lot of applications, it may be worth having someone review your resume to see if there is a disconnect between your message and the jobs that you are pursuing.
Most importantly, made sure that you are asking for help in your job search. This can mean asking for someone to review your resume or to get professional help in building a resume that gets through the ATS. Companies like The Contingent Plan will review your resume for free to provide insights on how your resume is actually performing.
Asking for help should also mean that you are tapping into your professional network to get referrals. This is particularly important post-pandemic with the number of online applications at its peak and employers remaining cost-conscious through the continued uncertainties. So, the value of your network is higher than ever and you should ask for help from your connections to make the most of your job search efforts.
]]>Most college students know that LinkedIn matters in some way. But, many new grads and college students don't invest a lot of time in LinkedIn. This is a mistake.
Your career journey will span many years and the time you invest in your LinkedIn profile can make a huge impact. In fact, 97% of recruiters are active on LinkedIn every single day. Yet, less than 30% of job seekers are using LinkedIn to find their next job. This creates a huge opportunity for new grads to land entry-level jobs.
The first step to using LinkedIn effectively is to build a strong LinkedIn profile. This is a social media platform for the professional world. So, your message needs to be professional.
After you create your LinkedIn account, you will want to follow these LinkedIn profile tips to build the best profile for your job search:
The first section of your LinkedIn profile is your summary. Your LinkedIn summary should be an overview of who you are as a professional. You will want to write this to your potential audience on LinkedIn.
Your goal with the description in your summary is to create a message that makes employers interested in learning more about you. You could include background on why you got into the field you are in, unique skills or experiences that make you stand out, recent awards or achievements, personal interests and other information about yourself.
Your LinkedIn summary should be written to help employers learn more about who you are outside of your work experience. The summary section is different than your bio on facebook or twitter.
Instead, this is where you get to convey your complete elevator pitch as a professional. This section is to emphasize the difference between you and other professionals. Include insights about your skills and knowledge. This will grab the attention of hiring managers and potential connections.
Your profile photo is so important. It should be your best professional headshot for LinkedIn. The reason you want a photo on LinkedIn is to help people remember who you are and build trust in you as a professional.
Try to use the same photo across all social media platforms. This will make it easier for hiring managers and recruiters to find you.
Make sure to use a photo that is professional-looking. Your profile photo does not have to be taken by a professional to make you look professional.
This means a high-resolution image must be used. It should be a close-up image of you where you look professional. This means that your friends or anyone else is not appearing in the image. You should not use a selfie or an image that is highly cropped.
This image will be indexed by google so you will want to have an image that creates interest in you as a person that people want to connect with.
The next thing to add to your new graduate LinkedIn profile is a cover or background photo. This image serves to create a visual cue to the person skimming your profile about who you are as a professional.
LinkedIn does offer a number of preset options in this field now. However, everyone can pick from those options. So, using these preset options does not make you stand out in the business world.
Instead, you should pick something that is unique to help people to visually connect with who you are as a professional. This could be an image that represents your best skills, your location, your industry, or any other image that helps people to see where you fit in the workforce.
The next step to building a strong LinkedIn profile for recent graduates is to add media across your profile. This means that you can and should attach samples of your work, videos, pictures, and anything else that you have to give people a context of your skills.
The types of files that you can attach as media to your profile are jpeg, pdf, or links to videos that are hosted on Vimeo or YouTube. LinkedIn will automatically process these files for the platform and they will embed directly on your profile for people to see.
Be smart about what items of media you add. Make sure they are your best works and that you have the authority to share the works publicly.
You will also want to use the fields when adding the media to your profile to describe what they are and why you did the work. This will provide important context to the person skimming through your profile.
Most recruiters use LinkedIn as a resume database. This means that they use the dropdowns and search fields to find people for their open jobs. They will also use these functions to validate a candidate for their job applications. So, you will want to make sure that you appear in their search results.
To do this, you will need use keywords relevant to your professional goals. You will also want to put those keywords all over your profile to ensure that you can show up in the maximum number of search results. You cannot appear in these searches if you do not provide a description of your professional life.
Simply attaching your resume as media to your profile will actually harm your job search. LinkedIn does not currently index the keywords in the media. Instead, you need to put the keywords in the appropriate fields.
You will need to complete all fields on your profile. This requires that you take special care with what you put into each field and how you enter the information in that field. This is important for a couple of reasons.
First, people cannot find you if you do not fully and completely fill out your LinkedIn profile. This means that recruiters will likely not find you or bother to look at your LinkedIn profile or resume if you fail to include all of the right information on your LinkedIn profile.
Second, most employers integrate their applicant tracking systems (ATS) with LinkedIn. These ATS programs are all driven by keywords and job titles. This means that the fields on LinkedIn are also fields in the employer's HR programs.
So, if you do not have information in the right place on your LinkedIn profile, then you will not be seen properly by potential employers. And, in that case, your applications to their job postings will likely be rejected automatically by the applicant tracking systems.
Avoid this common trap on LinkedIn for new grads and make sure to complete all fields with the right information for your experience. And, make sure to revisit your LinkedIn profile regularly to ensure that the information is current.
Most college students and new grads completed internships while they were in school. However, these internships are not always paid. This volunteer experience is valuable to your job search. So, make sure to include it on your LinkedIn profile.
You can put a paid or unpaid internship in the professional experience section of your LinkedIn profile. You can also use the Volunteer Experience section for your internship if it was unpaid. But, the better use of this section is for community groups, committees, and other groups that you have been involved with on a regular basis.
The Skills section on your LinkedIn profile maps directly into the applicant tracking systems. Companies that pay for the recruiter module on LinkedIn will also get analytics about your qualifications as a candidate based on this section. So, you will want to complete this section fully.
The keywords that you place in the skills section will be used against your profile to determine if you are qualified for any jobs that they advertise. This means that you need to make sure to include all relevant keywords here and keep it updated as your professional interests change over time.
When detailing these qualifications make sure not to list anything in this section that is not true. You will permanently harm your online reputation if you list things in this section that are false or untrue.
So, be sure to research keywords and phrases related to the position you are applying for when using this important feature on LinkedIn.
Putting yourself out on the job market means doing so with the right data. This means that you cannot be found on the platform by recruiters if you do not use the drop-downs. So, always pick the best options from those drop-downs whenever possible.
Those ATS programs used by most employers to sort candidates to their job postings will also probably reject you if they do not see the right information or cannot read your information. Avoid this common mistake and take the time to explore the settings on LinkedIn to make sure that you are maximizing your visibility.
Now that you have built an effective LinkedIn profile, you will want to be creative in how you use the system for your job search.
For many people, this means using LinkedIn on a daily basis. For many people, this means using LinkedIn on a daily basis. Making LinkedIn a habit will enable you to find the best ways to create new connections, find the right company, and explore all of the resources it has to offer for your job search and career.
You should use LinkedIn in whatever way is best for your goals and that you can stick with. However, you should make sure that you are using this powerful tool in a way that advances your current career goals.
LinkedIn should be used only for business purposes to connect with professionals in your industry or field. This means that you should only share things that you would want potential or current employers to see.
You can connect with friends on LinkedIn. In fact, doing so is a great way to stay in contact with people that you met at school. However, you shouldn't send spammy messages on LinkedIn or share anything that you wouldn't want potential employers to see.
Remember, LinkedIn isn't a dating site or a place to hang out with friends. Most people view the system as a place to build their knowledge, to find key resources in their industry, and to collaborate with other like-minded people in their industry.
So, be professional when you are using LinkedIn for your job search and make sure that your profile reflects it at all times.
The best way to stand out on LinkedIn is to ask for recommendations from people that you have worked with. The more you can get recommended by professionals that are well-respected, the better your chances will be of advancing in your job search.
For example, if you've done a great job working at Acme Company, ask one or two people that you have worked with to write a strong recommendation for you on your LinkedIn profile. If they are willing, ask them to include specific keywords in their recommendation.
These are more important to stand out on the platform. The recommendations will stay on your profile as long as you want them to. And, because these recommendations are public, many employers and recruiters will replace the traditional references when they see a number of recommendations on a candidate's profile.
You should also focus on making meaningful connections on LinkedIn. This means finding people in your existing network and creating new connections.
Typically, you can connect on LinkedIn with people that you have known in some capacity. This might be a person that you worked for or went to school with. You should try to build a network of professionals within your industry and related areas.
You never want to spam people on LinkedIn by connecting with them over and over again just so that you can get a recommendation or a connection. You should really connect with people that you have some sort of relationship with and that you feel comfortable asking for a referral, a recommendation, or an introduction.
The people who are best at networking are those who do so with intention. They genuinely want to meet new people and to learn from others in their field. This could be as simple as finding people at a company of interest or that also graduated from your school.
Whatever that potential link may be, make sure that you remain focused on why you are networking in the first place. Your career is long, so be careful to think about building a network that not just helps with the current job search, but also advances your bigger career goals.
Another way to help you stand out on LinkedIn is to join groups related to your job search.
For example, if you are interested in healthcare or project management, there could be relevant groups that you can join. By joining a group, being active in the comments section of posts, and sharing articles from other sites, you will get noticed by other group members.
This could lead to connections, recommendations, or opportunities that are relevant to your job search. The more active you are on LinkedIn groups, the more likely it will be for others to notice you and contact you about potential opportunities.
Many recent grads aren't sure which companies to follow on LinkedIn. By following a company, you are showing an interest in what the organization does or its industry. The posts made by the organization will also show up in your LinkedIn feed. You can always unfollow an organization if they do not prove interesting to your career or job search.
Recruiters will sometimes look at your companies list to find out what your interests may be. You should not follow every company that you apply to. This will become obvious to others if they look at your list. Instead, you should be selective in the types of organizations that you follow and the potential groups that you follow.
Make sure that you are using the job board portion of LinkedIn the right way.
LinkedIn is an aggregator of job postings. This means that employers can post jobs on the system, but other job boards will also push job postings to the system for publishing. This means that not all of the jobs on LinkedIn are active.
So, to use the system the right way, you want to leverage all of the data that it has to offer in the LinkedIn jobs section. This can include information about who posted the job, the number of applicants, the connections that you have that work there, and people that you should connect with at the company (i.e. school alumni, company alumni, etc.).
Find this information in the job postings on LinkedIn and use it by sending in-mails or connection invites to learn more. You can network on LinkedIn using this information and apply it directly to the employer on their job board or careers website. Going direct to the company through their careers page or an employee referral will almost always lead to better results.
However, there will be times when you must apply to jobs on LinkedIn. When you do this, you will probably not be able to send a cover letter. So, make sure that you have a strong resume and strong profile ready to go before you hit submit.
Recruiters that work at companies and that work at recruiting firms will reach out to you at some point in your career. You should respond to these inquiries whenever they are received.
This is important to do for a couple of reasons. First, LinkedIn provides recruiters with analytics about the responsiveness of candidates on the platform. Recruiters will use this insight to make decisions about whether or not to bother reaching out to someone about a job.
Remember, recruiters only have so many in-mails each month and they are credited back when people respond. So, by responding back with a simple "No Thank You," you are being courteous to that recruiter and improving your responsiveness analytics.
Second, that recruiter may be working on other jobs. So, in your response, be clear about the types of roles that you want. This will let the recruiter know quickly if you are a fit and make sure that you get in their system the right way.
Finally, and most importantly, make sure that you are using LinkedIn to engage with people in your industry. You can't build a network without putting energy into it consistently. So spend time making connections now and you will see a huge impact on your career for years to come.
Want to make sure that you are maximizing your LinkedIn profile as a college student or new grad? Have our team of expert resume writers and LinkedIn profile writers do it for you. Get Help Now.
]]>It is important to first understand what a professional bio is before making one. A bio is a short and concise description of your professional life. It can be used to introduce you as a professional to a number of different people at different points in your career.
A professional bio should only include relevant information about your skills and abilities. It is a good idea to use a standard format for all of your bios so they are easier to maintain, especially if you have multiple Bios on different platforms.
A professional bio is not a resume. A resume is a marketing piece that positions you as a qualified candidate for a particular job or opportunity. Resumes are often 1 - 3 pages and they contain a higher level of detail on all of your experiences.
Alternatively, a professional bio is concise and used to give the reader an overview of who you are instead of what you do. Depending on the purpose of the bio, it can be a few paragraphs to a glossier brochure, 1-page document.
Now that you have a clear idea of what a professional bio is, you can start building yours. The first step to building an effective professional bio is understanding how you will use it and why. From there, you write the content to achieve your goals. The following tips will help you to write the best professional bio possible for your goals.
The first factor to consider is your tone. What kind of personality do you want people to associate with you? For example, if you are known for your tenacity and strong work ethic, speak like a Brooklyn Dodger.
However, if you are more laid back and have a sense of humor, show that off in the bio. The tone should be as much as who you are as what you do.
Your professional bio should reflect your personal brand. You will not typically include details about your family life here. Instead, you will include your professional title and take many of the details from your resume to write the best bios.
Professional bios should be short and concise, but that does not mean they should be generic. Rather than regurgitating your resume in paragraph format, think about the most important information you want to communicate.
The goal of a professional bio is to make you stand out as a professional. This is not the place for modesty. A good rule of thumb is 1 - 2 paragraphs on average, with 5 sentences as a maximum.
An effective bio will meet the word count requirements of where it will be used. So, make sure that you keep in mind not just who will read it - but where it will be used as well. This means that you will probably want to write short bios and long bios to use.
Another factor to consider when writing your professional bio is keywords. These are words that do all of the work in communicating what you do without needing to go into great detail.
You need to keep your target audience in mind when writing a bio with keywords. While it may seem like a no brainer, using keywords strategically is different than using buzzwords. For example, "word-of-mouth marketing" is a term meant to make you sound more professional or technical than you are. A better term would be "networking."
Keep in mind that you want to write a professional bio that uses enough keywords so people will find your professional bio when searching for them. However, writing a bio with too many keywords can make it sound contrived or even spammy.
Remember, a good professional bio is only as effective as the audience it reaches. When building your professional bio, think about who you want to read it and where they will find it.
Thinking about where you will put your professional bio can also make an impact on what you create. Some platforms will have character limits or require more details because of their goals. So, writing a short, medium, and longer version will be key.
You will also want to write a version of your professional bio that is more designed than your resume. You will use this designed bio for potential clients, trade shows, speaking engagements, and other professional networking settings. You will write the content of this bio and design it consistently with your personal and company brand standards. It should show your expertise like a resume, but it should be more visually appealing than the traditional resume.
One of the most important pieces of your professional bio is to establish credibility. Credibility is achieved by showing what you've done, any experience that backs it up, and how long you have been doing it.
You will write this portion of your professional bio should not be generalized or broad; rather, make sure you highlight your most relevant experiences in the strongest terms possible. For example, use first-person language to describe your experience instead of writing "I have done this."
You will also want a bio that uses the third person. This bio will be used most commonly for your introduction. An example of a short bio in third person is:
"John Smith went to Columbia University. John specializes in digital marketing."
You will want to make sure that you use your professional title in this third person bio as well.
The final key factor in writing a professional bio is whether or not you are able to be warm and personable. People are drawn to those who are genuine, so it's important for your professional bio to reflect that.
Putting this into words is hard, but the best rule is to not use any language in your professional bio that makes you sound like a robot. Keep it conversational and fun while still sounding informed and engaging.
You can showcase your expertise and build a bio that engages with your audience on a personal level. You will write this bio with your audience in mind. The way to do this is to remember that this is your own bio. People connect with people, so you need to keep true to your voice in your bio.
At the end of your professional bio, it should have a call to action. This should be an indication that you are looking for new opportunities or asking someone to contact you about something in particular.
This could be anything from "Get a Free Consult" to "Contact me to see how I can help." It will depend on who is reading and how you will use the bio.
There are also many things to avoid in building your professional biography. The following are a round-up of the things to avoid in writing your professional bio.
We know you are proud of your job or business, but listing what everyone else is "proud" of does not make you stand out from the crowd.
For example, being a lawyer is common. Being a lawyer who has worked to defend the rights of the indigent is not as common. Thus, you should focus on the aspects of what you do or who you are that make your services or experiences unique.
You may think you sound smart by including words that are out of date or that are trendy right now. But, it really makes you look less professional and like you are trying too hard.
Don't come off as a one-hit-wonder or worse. Instead, stick to evergreen language to ensure that your professional bio can connect with the people you want to overtime.
The jargon of your industry may be important if that is your audience. But, even the people in your industry may have different knowledge levels. So, the best practice for a professional biography is to contain the content and level of detail that minimizes the jargon. Instead, it resonates with the reader at every level. This will showcase your communication skills and invite people to contact you to learn more.
Spelling, punctuation, and grammar are extremely important. Your professional bio is usually the first thing people read about you online. As such, it can be a deciding factor in whether or not they choose to learn more about your services or offerings. So, double-check for spelling, punctuation, etc., before publishing!
There are a number of places where you can use your professional biography. Here are the most common places where people use their professional bios and how to make sure you are making the most of your message.
The first place for your professional bio is your company website. This is where you can share your professional story and tell potential or existing clients what you do. This site could be external (customer-facing) or internal (for colleagues and leadership). Keep in mind this key difference when building your professional bio for use on the company website.
LinkedIn is one of the top places where professionals across industries post their professional bio. While LinkedIn tends to be a place where you share more information, your professional bio should still contain the key points.
You will add your professional bio to the LinkedIn Summary section on your LinkedIn profile. This section allows up to 2,600 characters and you will want to use them all.
The key to a great LinkedIn bio is to make sure that you cover all of the highlights of your career. Most people will drop off of your profile after skimming your LinkedIn bio. So, make the most of this precious real estate on your LinkedIn profile.
Your professional bio can also be used for industry websites. These may be associations that you are a member of or that your company participates in. Your industry website may provide an online presence for your company. Or, it may be a great resource for people to learn more about your expertise. Whatever the case, you should have some sort of information available on the subject of your profession or business on these sites.
Having your own personal website gives you the opportunity to stand out and show people what you do in more detail. You can provide a more detailed look at your professional story and introduce yourself on your own terms. It doesn't matter if it's on WordPress, SquareSpace, Wix, or anything else. Just make sure that you add a professional bio and make it available to your audience.
People who build their own personal websites typically do so because they want to showcase their portfolio of works, entrepreneurial endeavors, or want to preserve the domain to improve their overall professional image.
If you take the time to build your own website, make sure that you do it well. A bad or poorly done personal website can be worse for your career goals than no personal website. So, many people will use their social media pages for this purpose until they are ready to build a personal website.
People use their professional bios during conferences or events to introduce themselves and what they offer. You can prepare a very short bio for this purpose that describes your name, where you are located, the company you represent, and what makes you unique.
Many conferences or events will have different requirements or space limitations for the professional bios of the participants or speakers. You will want to include a few accomplishments or professional skills in that professional bio to grab the reader's attention and to establish credibility.
Writing a professional bio means that you will also craft one for use across social media platforms. The next place to use your professional bio is to put it consistently on all of your social media pages. This includes LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and any other social media accounts that you have.
The target audience on each social media platform will be different. Your bio will vary depending on the particular platform. The different platforms may also have their own character limit. For example, an Instagram bio can be quite different than what you will use for your Twitter profile. The key to deciding how you will build each bio will depend on the social media channel.
If you are in the job market, your professional bio will be one of the most important pieces of information about you to share with potential employers.
As a job seeker, you can use your bio on your resume, the bio section of the candidate profile, and when using the bio section for the job boards.
The average person spends about 6 seconds skimming your bio before they make up their mind about you. So, you will want a first sentence that connects with your audience on a personal level. You can do that by including compelling experiences or professional accomplishments.
A bio for a jobseeker should also include your job title, your career history, and professional goals. You will also want to insert degree because they can be important to a potential employer.
You can also include a great example of your professional accomplishments to engage the reader. However, you will not want to include any personal details in this bio. Instead, you should reserve the personal details for a personal bio.
The job seeker will also build a short version of their bio and an in depth bio for different parts of their search. Writing this bio can enable you to stand out from other professionals because you will show that you have tailored to the particular platform or audience.
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]]>The reason why you are building the resume can be more important than how the resume itself is being built. Remember, you are building the resume for a specific purpose and that there will be a particular goal that you are trying to achieve with this resume. That audience is key to the success of your resume. Keeping that audience in mind through the resume-building process will also make the process more effective.
The reason why people build a resume when they aren't looking for a job can vary. It could be that you were asked by your current company to prepare it, that you are looking to market your services, that clients asked for the resume, or even that your company is pursuing certification or new contracts. Whatever the reason is, remember that the resume you are building is about marketing you and your abilities. So keep that purpose and audience in mind as you think about what details to cover on the resume, the format, and how it will get used.
A resume for any purpose is simply a marketing piece - a document that markets you as the best person for the need. Thus, you need to focus that document by deciding what your key skills and core message is BEFORE you even start building it. You want to make sure that you understand what the person (or computer system) will be looking for when reading the resume.
Second, you want to think about what it is that you bring to the table that makes you the best option. The resume will simply get you the conversation where you can expand upon the details. So, you need to have the talking points that you want to cover in that conversation on your resume.
Put together the details behind those talking points to create the strongest message on your resume. Think about why you want to cover those examples or capabilities in a conversation. How do these items make you stand out? Cover that clearly on the resume and you will draw the attention of your audience.
Although the resume isn't being built for a traditional job search, people will still expect that you cover the basics and that they document LOOKS like a resume. So, make sure that you have all the details covered on the resume and make no assumptions about what people know about your experience. Use this as an opportunity to remind people everything that you have done. Your experience is unique and covering all of those details will help remind people of your journey.
Covering the basics doesn't mean covering your life story. Instead, remember the audience and keep the details on the resume focused on what matters. You should cover the salient points in your experience. You should also make sure that you are building a resume that meets any specific format requirements for your specific purpose. In some cases, a professional bio rather than a full-blown resume is more appropriate. Whatever the purpose or style requirements, make sure that you are covering all of the basic details on the document to meet the needs of your audience. Don't forget to include your contact details on here to ensure that everyone that sees the resume can contact you to discuss the opportunities.
The most important part of any resume is the achievements. This is true regardless of why the resume is being built. People connect with results and the things that you have achieved is what make you stand out from the next person (or company). This can also be the most challenging part of building a resume.
A compelling achievement statement on your resume includes an explanation of what you did, for whom, and a result of some kind from those efforts. This item will also include a number of some kind if at all possible. At the same time, numbers are relative. So, you can include percentages to indicate a movement up or down. You may not be able to disclose the specific names of the client or what you did for them. But, you can provide enough detail about the types of organization they are (i.e. Fortune 10 Retailer, Multi-National Financial Services Institution, etc.). The point is that you do not have to disclose confidential or proprietary information on your resume. However, you must convey your role in achieving the results in a way that anyone can understand.
Taking stock of all of your achievements in a role or for a client is important for most people because it reminds them of everything they have done. It also helps them to identify what they could work on to gain experience. Creating the list of these achievements and strategically including them on your resume will also help you in the interviewing process or in your sales efforts because you can clearly talk to specific results and how you obtained them. This level of clarity in your message is compelling and will help you to achieve whatever your professional objectives may be.
Updating your resume periodically is an important exercise - even if you aren't actively looking for a job. It is easy to forget all of the things you do if you don't update the resume regularly - this is particularly true if you are being promoted at the same organization. So, take the time to update your resume regularly to make sure that you can keep track of everything. Plus, in doing so, you will know that you can respond to inquiries by people or clients for a request on short notice. You don't want to miss out on opportunities simply because you don't have a resume.
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]]>A resume is a marketing document to position you for the job that you are applying for. A resume includes basic experience and educational details with some information about your experience. Most people's resumes are 1 - 2 pages.
However, a CV is a historical report of all of your professional accomplishments. This means that CVs are generally longer than resumes, often many more pages than a resume. The CV includes all of the information on your resume as well as supplemental information that reflects your scientific expertise. These works are not removed over time, instead, on a CV, you will simply keep adding your professional accomplishments and scientific knowledge.
The following is what you should include in your scientific CV to stand out for your applications.
The start of every strong scientific curriculum vitae is the ability to contact the candidate. Make sure to include all of the relevant details in the header of your CV so that the hiring committee can reach you. This includes the following:
The next section on your scientific CV should be a summary that conveys a high-level overview of you as a professional. Your summary should be around 3- 5 sentences. It will include an overview of your skills, expertise, and motivations. This is not the time to include degrees or certifications. Instead, think about how you can position yourself as an expert in your field.
The education section on the scientific curriculum vitae should include all of your degrees, credentials, and how you earned them. It is important to note how you obtained these degrees as well as where they were awarded. This means listing the following:
It is also important to include how you earned these degrees and credentials. Did you earn them through a traditional program or an alternative path such as earning your Bachelor's degree while enrolled in medical school? Was it part of a dual-degree program?
You should list this information in order to make it clear how you obtained your credentials.
The next section on your scientific CV should be a dedicated area for all of the awards, fellowships, grants, and scholarships that you have received. You will want to list out each item separately, include a description of why it was received, who issued the award/grant, and the amount.
A few additional details can also strategically make your CV stand out. For example, you could include information about your competition for the award (was it national, global, research-based, etc.). And, you should include reference to the names or titles of the people that nominated you for the award if applicable. These additional details provide important context to the hiring committee that may not be familiar with the particular award but can appreciate its value and prestige if given the appropriate context.
If you have been the principal investigator of a grant, it is important to include this information in your CV. This shows that you have the experience and knowledge needed to be successful as an independent researcher. If you are applying for a position where grants or funding are not relevant (i.e., technician), then you may choose to exclude this section.
Next up on your scientific CV should be a list of all of the technical skills that you have. This could include software programs, laboratory techniques, specific instruments, and foreign languages.
You will want to list each skill separately and provide a brief description of how you acquired it (did you take a course, did you self-teach, how long have you been using it, etc.). You can also include the methods you have used or particular assessments that are relevant for your field.
The names of particular software or tools can be particularly important as they can hiring requirements. This means that you will want to list the specific names of software, equipment, and programming on your CV.
For example, if you have used or are familiar with Python (a computer language), it is important to note how advanced your skillset is. The same goes for foreign languages. It is also a good idea to include how fluent you are in reading and speaking the language(s).
The professional experience section of the scientific CV should list all of your previous jobs in reverse chronological order. This will include the following information for each experience:
You should also use this area to list how you played a role in the research, how many people were on your team and how much responsibility you had for each job.
You can also use bullet points to add further context to how you contributed at each position (i.e., "conducted X number of experiments that led to Y results").
The expectation is that all teaching experience is broken out separately on the CV. These entries will also be in reverse chronology format and follow the same style as the entries in the professional experience section. However, the additional items to include for this section include:
A great scientific CV includes a section that is dedicated to the professional memberships and leadership roles that you have held in the field. This demonstrates your commitment to the community and recognition as a thought leader. The information in this section of your CV will be listed in reverse chronology order or it could be in the order of prestige/title. You should include the following for entry in this section:
Including a list of your scientific publications is an expectation for any CV. However, how this section is formatted and what information to include can vary depending on the level of position you are applying for.
For those in more senior positions (i.e., PI, Post-Doc), it is common to have a "Publications" section with the list of publications and then a separate "Recent Publications" or similar. This format allows you to highlight your most important works without overwhelming the reader.
For those in more junior positions, including all of your relevant publications can be useful as it shows how committed you are to research and how active you have been in publishing during your career.
Here are a few tips on how to format your publication entries:
Including a section on presentations is important as it shows that you are an active participant in the scientific community. As with the publications, how this information is formatted and what to include can vary based on your level of experience and the position you are applying for.
For those in more senior positions, including a list of all conference presentations may be more appropriate. This demonstrates your breadth of knowledge and how you have been able to share your work with the community.
For those in more junior positions, it may be more beneficial to list only selected presentations that are the most relevant to the position you are applying for.
Here are a few tips on how to format presentation entries:
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]]>The role of a cover letter in the government hiring process is different. In many cases, the government agency that you are applying to will review the cover letter before they even look at your resume. The cover letter and additional job application questions are used to determine whether you meet the minimum requirements for the job posting. Your resume will not be opened by the government recruiter if they do not find the answers to these basic questions in your cover letter or job application questions. So, the cover letter plays a much larger role in any government job search than its private-sector counterpart.
Because of the importance of the cover letter, you need to explicitly address the qualifications as outlined in the job description. This means listing out how you meet each of those minimum qualifications that are included in the job description. You should also include an explanation of how you meet the preferred qualifications in your cover letter. The best way to include this information is to do so right away in the cover letter and to put it all together in a paragraph or two. This will make it easier for the person skimming the cover letter to see that you are qualified for the job and to move you on to the next step in the hiring process.
Make sure to include specific examples of how you have demonstrated the skills required for the government position in your cover letter. This will make it easier for the person evaluating your application to see how you fit their needs. It will also help the hiring manager to compare you to other candidates. You can stand out from the competition on your cover letter by including those big talking points from your resume.
Remember that the point of the cover letter in any government job search is to tell the story beyond your resume as well. This means explaining how you meet the requirements for the job, but also why you are the best fit for the position. This means you may need to use your cover letter to explain gaps in employment or skills that don't show up on the resume if they are needed for the position.
You don't need to tell your entire life story on the government cover letter. Instead, it should be told in a way that is relevant to the particular job and the particular agency that you are applying to. This means keeping your cover letter focused on your audience and sticking to the information that is important to show you are qualified for the job that you are applying to.
Take your government cover letter to the next level by connecting the dots for the person reading the cover letter. Make it easy for that person to see you as qualified and a fit for the role. This process can be easy if you are already in government service. But, if you coming from the private sector, remember to change the way you convey your experience to meet the expectations of the government agency that you are applying to.
For example, government agencies aren't operating on a profit mindset. So, details about how much money you made a company may not be relevant. Instead, talk about the great service that you delivered to customers and how that drove their satisfaction with the organization or how that may have enabled expanded capabilities. Point is, reframe your achievements in a way that is relevant to your next career move so that the people evaluating your application can easily see you in the role.
The more specific you can be in a government cover letter the better your chances will be at landing the interview. As explained above, the government hiring process is based on qualifications for the particular job that you are applying to. This means that you need to include the specific qualifications for the particular job on your cover letter and to explain how you meet them.
This may take more time, but it will yield better results in your job search. The time that you spend to create a cover letter that is customized for a particular job opening can be worth it. You can also build cover letters for different agencies/job types so that the process is faster going forward. Remember, you only need to customize the letters - you don't have to build entirely new content each time. So, having a few cover letters built for the types of jobs and agencies that you are applying to will make the customizing process faster overall.
Moving into government service at any level requires a unique motivation. In fact, you may see a cut in your base compensation to make this move. Most recruiters and hiring managers in the government understand that this is a factor. So, they will want to see that your motivations are right for their team for the long term. They want to hire people that can do the job, but also want to serve the public. This public service mindset is key to a successful career in the government.
As a result, you need to explain your interest and commitment to joining public service in your cover letter. This can be specific to the particular job or agency. Or, you could opt to talk about your motivations for public service generally. Whatever you decide to do, make sure that you are clear on your message about why you want to move into public service and why a government career is right for you now. This will also make it easier for you in the interviewing process as you will get asked about your interests in public service and the agency at some point. So, be proactive and include that information in your government cover letter whenever possible.
Want help with your government cover letter? Our team of proven government cover letter and resume writers can build you the message that gets interviews. Get help now.
]]>It may seem obvious, but the most common mistake by new grads on their resume is in their contact details. If you have the wrong or incomplete details on your resume, the recruiter or hiring manager won't be able to contact you for an interview. This means that your resume needs to have at a minimum, your name, email, and phone number.
Additional details that you should include on your new grad resume is your City, State, Zip Code, and your LinkedIn profile link. Why? Recruiters will filter candidates out based on their geography. So, you will be excluded from those searches by the applicant tracking systems (ATS) automatically if you don't include your geography.
The LinkedIn profile also needs to be included on your resume because people will be looking for it in the hiring process. Leaving it off only hurts your application and can leave to chance the person finds the wrong profile. So, put your LinkedIn profile and any other relevant profiles or portfolio sites in your contact details to make it easier to find more information about you.
Another big mistake by new grads on their resume is to forget to run spelling or grammar checks. Typos and grammar mistakes make it look like you didn't take the time to proofread your resume or that you don't care about the details.
Most hiring managers and recruiters see this as inexcusable. There are so many free tools out there (including those built into Google Docs or Word) that there really is no reason for this to happen.
Studies show that people spend about 6 seconds skimming a resume before they make up their minds about a candidate. So, you must make a good impression immediately. And, that includes making sure that the resume is free of spelling or grammar mistakes.
Everyone relies on their friends and colleagues for advice at some point in their career. In college, those friends or trusted resources may not have a lot (or any) experience in searching for professional jobs. Career services at your college or university can be a great resource, but they are there to help everyone else. So, a big mistake that many new grads make is to blindly follow the advice of their friends or career services.
This results in your application looking just like everyone else's on your campus. And, by copying them, you could also be making the same mistakes. To stand out, you have to build a resume that is built for your career. This means that you will also need to account for how and where that resume will go. And, you will need to account for the right keywords and phrasing for your career goals - not just that provided by your career services or friends.
Most college grads are pursuing multiple types of jobs so they can land somewhere to apply for their degree. Your experience is your experience, but how you capture that experience and the phrasing that you use can vary across job types or industries.
In doing so, they forget to customize the resume for the types of jobs that they are pursuing. This means having more than one version of your resume so you can effectively pursue the jobs that you are applying to. Or, customize the resume each time that you apply to a position.
Another big mistake of new college grads is to forget to include all of the important details on their resume about their professional experiences. As noted above, the resume will be scanned by the ATS before it is reviewed by a person if you are applying online or otherwise going through HR. This means that the resume must include all of the relevant details on it to land the interview.
Avoid this common mistake by including all of the basic details and talking points about your experience so that you can land the interview. Make sure that you can talk to every word on your resume because you could be asked questions about it. And, remember that the person interviewing you may or may not be familiar with the organization or the program that you were in when you completed the experience. So, include information in a way that anyone could understand the experience.
Numbers are an important way to illustrate the impact of your work. Forgetting to include the results on your new college grad resume is a common mistake. In fact, you may not even know the numbers or full impact of the work that you did because you didn't have access to that information.
A common workaround for that is to talk about the results that you know. Use the numbers of the accounts that you supported, the people you collaborated with, the clients served, etc. Think about how your experience compared to other interns or people on your team. Did you outperform others or the expectations for your work? If so, try to quantify it if you can.
Entry-level professionals and new grads are almost always hired for their soft skills and ability to fit the company culture. This is because you won't and aren't expected to have the experience or expertise yet. Instead, the employer is actually looking for someone with a foundation knowledge that they can grow. But, most new grads overlook the importance of these skills on their resume and leave them off. Avoid this mistake by making a point to include clear soft skills on your resume.
Top soft skills to include on your new college grad resume are:
Most new grads don't realize that a resume is simply a marketing piece to position you for the job that you want. It is not a historical report on everything that you have ever done. So, you will need to keep the resume focused on the relevant details for the types of jobs that you want to pursue.
One way to do this is to think about what the employer wants and needs. What are they looking for in the new hire? And, can you illustrate that you have those skills or experiences on your resume. Make sure to remove anything that is not relevant so that you can leave room for the details and experiences that are most relevant to your current search.
The key to a good new grad resume is to make sure that it can get you an interview. For most people, this means that the resume will need to be ATS-optimized because they will be applying to jobs online or going through traditional HR processes. There are a lot of ATS programs out there and they can be highly customizable. But, these systems are all built around keywords and job titles. Meaning that the ATS will scan your resume for keywords to see if you are a match for the open job.
Over 70% of all applicants to jobs are automatically rejected by the ATS. Often, they are rejected because the programs cannot read resumes that have graphics, include pictures, or that are otherwise heavily formatted. So, you need to build a clean resume that is focused on the words on the page to get through the resume bots.
You built a resume to get into college and that included a lot of details about your experiences in high school. Now, you need to remove or minimize that information from your high school time on your resume. Many new college grads forget this step and most hiring managers find it incredibly frustrating.
You have grown a lot since you graduated high school in your knowledge and ability to move into your career. What you did before really doesn't matter as much. So, avoid this by simply removing the older information or minimizing it to stay focused on what matters now in your job search.
Similarly, many new college grads forget to include some of the most relevant details about their undergraduate degree. In many cases, these experiences are key to landing that first job. So, make sure to avoid this mistake by making room for the important details from your college experience.
Things that you should include are:
All of this information can help illustrate to the employer that you have the foundation knowledge for the job and help you to stand out from other applicants. In many cases, this can also help to add important keywords to your resume that may not otherwise show up in your experiences.
Many new college grads underestimate the value of their volunteering experiences. The fact that you weren't paid doesn't mean that your experience is less valuable at this stage in your career. In fact, many hiring managers see volunteer work as a strong indicator of your character and motivation.
So, make sure to include all of your volunteer experiences on your resume. This can help you to stand out from other applicants who may only have paid work experience. It also shows that you are motivated and care about making a difference.
Including this information can also help you to fill in any gaps on your resume. Many new college grads have a lot of volunteer experience but may not have as much paid work experience. This section can help to bridge that gap and show the hiring manager that you are ready for your career.
Another common mistake made by new college grads is building a resume that is too long or too short for their experiences. Most people that are just graduating college will have a 1-page resume. But, there are others that could and should have a 2-page resume.
Career services will tell you that your resume should be 1 page. There really is no hard and fast rule for resume length. Your resume needs to reflect your relevant career experiences to help you land a job. The pandemic has changed how and when people get their collegiate education. So, your experiences may be quite a bit more than the traditional college student. Make sure that you build a resume that reflects the full, relevant picture of you as a professional.
Many new college grads will forget to include the important skills they have beyond their education and professional experience. This could be technical skills, software, certifications, licenses, language abilities, etc. Whatever those additional skills are, they can matter for some employers and be requirements to qualify for certain jobs.
Make sure that you leave space and include these additional details at the bottom of your resume. Include these clearly and put them on your resume in an organized fashion so that people skimming for the information can find what they want. Leaving them off will only result in you being viewed as unqualified or under-qualified for the positions that you apply to.
Another big mistake of new grads is in how they use their resume. You will need to apply to jobs (a lot of them) online and through various hiring events. When you do so, make sure that you are submitting a resume in the right way for the job that you are applying to. This means following the directions in how and where to apply for the job. Many people fail to thoroughly read those instructions in the job description and miss out on the job.
And, remember that this means that the resume needs to be viewable by the person that you want to see it. Not everyone has Pages or Google Docs. So, when applying, send a pdf version of your resume unless otherwise instructed. This will ensure that the ATS and the person ultimately viewing your resume can see what you want to see on your resume.
The bottom line is that there are many resume mistakes that new college grads can make. But, by avoiding these common mistakes, you can increase your chances of landing that first job. By following these tips, you will be on your way to creating a great new grad resume!
Want to land more interviews in your field? Work with one of our resume writing experts to build your resume and cover letter. Get Expert Help Now.
]]>Understanding the role of an executive recruiter is key to understanding what to include and how on your executive resume. Executives interact with recruiters in a couple of ways through a job search. First, you may be approached by a recruiter at some point. You may not be actively looking for a new challenge when the recruiter makes contact. But, having that conversation with the recruiter can still be a good exercise in exploring your options. The recruiter working in a recruiting firm will be working on an open position and will only contact you when something in your background fits the needs of their employer client. This recruiter will know the real story of the position and will be able to advocate for you through the process. But, they will need a resume from you for this position to submit you for consideration to their client.
The recruiter that works for the company that is hiring will probably first encounter you through your application. This person may be actively engaging candidates online, but it is more likely that the internal recruiter first finds you from your application. This recruiter will be the gatekeeper to the position and you will need a resume that conveys your qualifications and vision as a fit for the role. This person can be your advocate through the process, but they will also be a colleague of the person hired. So, they will want to find a candidate that they like and that showcases their executive recruiting skills to the hiring manager when they submit you for consideration.
Although these types of recruiters may have different motivations and methods, they are still looking for the right candidate(s) to send to the hiring manager. So, you need to make sure that your executive resume stands out with the right details. Here is how to build the best executive resume:
As an executive, you have probably been a hiring manager many times. You may have your own way of looking at resumes and evaluating candidates. But, you are not that person when you are looking. Instead, it is important to build your executive resume for your audience so they can find the details that they want to see. This means that you need to include everything on the resume that you want to talk about in the interview. The recruiter will do their best to get the right candidates through the process, but they can't do that if you don't put the right information on your resume. So, make sure that your value proposition is clearly spelled out on your resume. This will enable the recruiter and hiring manager to find it quickly when they skim your resume.
It has probably been several years since you completed any degrees. And, your experience as a leader does matter more at this point in your executive career. But, your degrees and certifications still help you to stand out. This is true for executives in fields where those degrees may not be required for the types of jobs that you are pursuing. Thus, make sure that you include your credentials clearly on your resume. You shouldn't put your degree or certifications at the top of your resume, but you can be strategic and put those designations behind your name. For example:
John Smith, MBA, CFA
Doing this will enable the person skimming your resume to quickly see your credentials. Make sure that you only do this for credentials that are relevant and customary in your profession. For example, a person building a CTO resume may have a number of technical certifications. But, they will not need to (and should not) list all of those acronyms behind their name. Instead, this executive should pick 1 - 2 such credentials to include with their name.
Executive recruiters and other people in the hiring process will be looking for your LinkedIn profile. They will review your LinkedIn profile even if you don't apply to the job through LinkedIn. I fact, over 90% of employers are looking for your social media profiles (particularly LinkedIn) before setting up any interviews. So, make sure to include your LinkedIn profile link on your resume. This is particularly important for people with common names so that they can avoid confusion with the wrong profiles.
To properly include your LinkedIn profile on your resume, make sure that it is in the contact details section of your executive resume. This could be right behind your email and phone number.
And, make sure that you include the actual link - not merely an embedded hyperlink. This is important because the applicant tracking systems cannot always parse the link from the text. So, the only way to ensure it gets through the process is to put the full link on your resume.
To make it look better on your resume, consider customizing your LinkedIn profile link. You can do this to remove the numbers behind your name or to add branding to your link.
Recruiters and the other people in the hiring process will skim your executive resume. In fact, studies consistently show that you have about 6 seconds of someone skimming your resume before they make their mind up about whether to pass or not on a candidate. So, you need to get to the point to get their attention.
Including a summary at the top of your executive resume gives your elevator pitch. A well-crafted summary provides an answer to the question of "Why hire you for this job?" So, make sure that you cover the relevant highlights and details that answer this question. It also means that a good summary for an executive resume is one that is customized to the audience.
Include a carefully selected list of skills and competencies on your executive resume. You do this as an executive because everyone doing that will be looking for different things as you progress through the hiring process. Some people want only high-level concepts. So, providing a list of skills and competencies in the form of keywords or phrases will make it easier for them to see how you fit the position.
Including this list of skills & competencies will also improve the performance of your resume with the applicant tracking systems (ATS). The ATS programs are all driven by keywords and you will need to match at least 70% of them to get through the system. Thus, a skills & competencies list will enable you to easily customize the resume to those particular keywords while also making it easier for people to skim your resume.
Including a section at the beginning of your executive resume that presents your value proposition and results will have a huge impact. Doing this will depart from the traditional chronology format of a resume, but it will not be the only section that includes your results. Instead, keep this highlights section focused. Remember, the people looking at your resume will be skimming (quickly). So, keep this section tight and on message.
You can use this section to incorporate the big results across your career - rather than specific roles. But, the items that you pick for this section should be connected to the types of jobs and companies that you are applying to. Relevancy is key to standing out for the specific jobs that you pursue. And, you need to make sure that these highlights reflect the items or examples that you plan to talk about in an interview.
Most importantly, make sure that you include numbers of some kind in this section of your executive resume. Doing this will enable the person to visualize the results that you achieved and to compare you to other candidates. Numbers can also be relative - meaning that they may be way too big or too small for the employers that you are pursuing now. So, consider using percentages to show movement in this section rather than a straight number.
To build an ATS optimized executive resume, you will need to include details under the specific roles that you have held. In this area, you will want to focus on the achievements that you have obtained in each role. And, you will want to keep those achievements relevant to the types of jobs that you are now pursuing. Meaning that you do not want a historical report of everything that you have ever done. Instead, include the results from those positions in a way that connects with what you want to do next.
The best achievement statements focus on your executive contributions and include a number to quantify your impact. The types of numbers and your contributions can vary depending on the types of roles that you pursue. But, the key is always to stay on track with your bigger executive message. An example of an executive achievement bullet is:
Compare that to this bullet without the numbers:
Thus, it is easy to see the difference between the candidates with the quantifiable information included. So, make sure that each of the entries in your professional experience includes achievement bullets. And, to build the best executive resume, make sure that you include numbers wherever you can in those achievement statements.
Many executives have years of great career experience. But, the more years that you have isn't always a favorable thing. Employers can't discriminate based on age, but recruiters and decision-makers can still hold bias against seasoned executives. This can come in the form of the perception that you are too expensive, too stuck in your ways, or unable to change. To avoid these biases, make sure that you keep your message focused on the recent experiences.
Your full career story is relevant, but the last 10 - 15 years are the most relevant in your executive job search. So, keep the details in your resume focused on those pieces. You can roll up the older roles without bullets or details if you want to keep the progression on your resume. But, you should cut that experience off at a certain point to prevent the potential biases (and to keep the resume length appropriate for your experience).
Speaking, memberships, and writing are all great ways to give back to your field or to advance the image of the companies that you lead as an executive. Make sure to include this activity on your resume to help the recruiters to see you as a thought leader in your industry.
Include this list of speaking, memberships, and articles at the end of your resume. The right way to put this on your executive resume is to organize the entries so it is easy to skim through the details. You will want to put the titles of any presentations, co-presenters/authors, publications or conference names, and dates.
Organize these entries based on type and prestige. Meaning that you shouldn't pick every presentation or article ever. Instead, include the ones that are most relevant to your current leadership message and career objectives. You should also organize each of these sections consistently so that they are either reverse chronology or in terms of high profile to lowest profile.
Another area to consider including in this section would be any press coverage. This could be coverage of you or your companies/teams. Include the full titles of the piece, the press outlet, the date, and a link to the article or interview. Including this earned media will help to build credibility well beyond other executive candidates.
At this point in your career, the year you graduated will not matter. And, in fact, could unnecessarily create bias. So, remove the years from any degrees on your resume. The fact that you have these degrees and that they can be verified by the school is sufficient for your executive resume.
Similarly, you should remove the time period for any jobs on your executive resume that do not have details under them. Thus, any entries in your prior experience without bullets do not need dates. You put them on here to show your progression, but the time that you were in those roles isn't relevant.
Finally, remove any dates from certifications or other areas on your resume that aren't relevant. As explained above, extra dates may only serve to age you or to make you look stale. So, keep the focus on the relevant facts - that you have the right certifications or credentials for the position. Conversely, if you obtained a certification or license recently, then make sure to include the date for that certification or license. Doing this will show that you are a continuous learner and that you continue to grow as an executive leader.
]]>To make that decision, you need to know the pros and cons of hiring a resume-writing service. Here are the things you need to know to decide if hiring a professional resume-writing service:
Not everyone should hire a resume-writing service. Here are the top reasons that you won't find value in having someone write your resume for you.
The top reason why people don't hire a resume-writing service is money. People looking for jobs may not have room in their budget for the additional expense of a resume writer.
If you're working with a tight budget, hiring a resume writing service may simply be out of reach at this time. That's ok! There are lots of free resources out there. You may find that these are enough to help you create your own resume.
You cannot expect someone to write you a great resume without providing input or feedback. A good resume writing service will ask you for these details when you hire them. But, the time to share your story may feel frustrating if you simply don't have the time to work with your resume writer currently. If this is the case, then you probably shouldn't hire a resume writer.
The resume writing service will use what you provide and their knowledge to create your resume. However, you will need to ask that resume writing service for edits or to understand what is on your resume.
This means that you need to read the resume that the service creates and take the time to provide feedback or to ask for clarifications for the resume to truly reflect your experiences. So, if you don't have the time to review the resume when working with the resume service, then you may not get the value out of hiring someone to write your resume for you.
where they are so in demand that a great resume isn't really necessary. You may have the network or experiences that you can easily make a great resume on your own. In that case, save your money and write your own resume.
A quality resume written by a resume writing service takes time. This means that an actual person is taking your information to create your message. So, you cannot expect a professional resume writer to build you a quality resume immediately. Many professional resume writing services like The Contingent Plan offer an expedited service, but those services are still performed by actual people.
At the same time, there are some good reasons to hire a resume-writing service. Here are the top benefits of hiring someone to write your resume for you.
One benefit is that a professional resume writing service brings an objective perspective. It's easy to get caught up in our own accomplishments and downplay our weaknesses when writing our own resumes. But a resume expert will be able to take an objective look at your qualifications and figure out what prospective employers will find most impressive about you.
Hiring someone also takes the pressure off of you. Trying to write your own resume can be overwhelming while trying to look for jobs, network, and attend to the rest of your life. But when someone else does it for you, all you have to do is provide them with the information they need and then sit back and relax while they put it all together for you.
Another advantage of working with a professional is that they can help you overcome any roadblocks you may have in terms of self-promotion. It can be difficult to write about yourself in a way that accurately reflects your skills and experience without sounding arrogant or self-absorbed. A resume writer can help you find the right balance so that your resume sounds confident without sounding conceited.
Writing a resume takes time. However, hiring a resume-writing service can free up time for you to focus on other important aspects of your job search, such as networking and interview preparation. By delegating this task to someone else, you can ensure that your resume is in top shape while still having enough time to dedicate to the other aspects of finding a new job.
Some people have to customize their resumes to get past the applicant tracking systems. A quality resume writing service will know those ATS and will be able to effectively customize your resume to get through the system. Crafting a document that gets through the technology and connects with the hiring managers is key to landing the job. This can also translate into a career-changing opportunity and is definitely worth the expense for many.
Another advantage is that they have the expertise and experience needed to know what recruiters and hiring managers are looking for in a candidate. They know how to use keywords and craft sentences that will capture the attention of the reader and make them want to learn more about you.
So should you hire someone to write your resume? Ultimately, this depends on your experience and current goals. Not everyone can benefit from hiring a resume writing service, but if you can, then make sure that you find the service that is right for your needs.
Want a free analysis of your resume to see if a professional resume writing service can help you? Submit your information below to claim your free analysis or consultation with the resume-writing experts at The Contingent Plan.
]]>The Contingent Plan and other good resume writing services know how to target your resume to specific jobs and industries and will know how to make your qualifications and experience stand out from the competition. Professional resume writers will also know how to write effective cover letters and follow-up letters that will help you get one step closer to landing your dream job. However, it does not always make sense to work with a resume writing service. Here is everything you need to know about when it is and when doesn't make sense to work with a resume writer.
There are times when it is not worth it to work with a resume writer. Here are the most common times it is typically best to not pay someone to write your resume.
You can't write a resume in a vacuum. A good resume writer needs to ask you questions about your experience and your search to understand how to craft your message. A resume writer that does not ask questions or take the time to listen to your experience is not worth your time or money.
You want to be sure that the resume writer you work with has experience writing resumes for people in your industry. They should understand the skills and keywords that are important for your industry and how to craft a resume that will get you noticed by hiring managers in your field.
Most employers use an applicant tracking systems (ATS) to screen resumes. In fact, over 99% of Fortune 500 companies use an ATS and over 70% of all other companies use some kind of ATS. This means that your resume will go through the ATS if you are applying to jobs online. So, a resume writer that doesn't know or care about the ATS isn't helping you to land a job. And, working with them is probably not worth your time.
There are a lot of resume writing services that will over-promise and under-deliver. However, most of these services are not worth your time or money.
A good resume writing service will not be the cheapest option but it will also not be the most expensive.
You can expect to pay at least a few hundred dollars for a good resume writing service. The price you pay will depend on your experience, the level of service you need, and the number of resumes and cover letters you need. However, you should not pay thousands of dollars for a single resume and cover letter.
A resume writer that is too cheap or too expensive is probably not worth the time and money. And, you are unlikely to get the results you are hoping for in either situation.
A professional resume writer is typically not going to be able to write you a quality resume overnight. It takes time to craft a well-written and effective resume. If you need a resume yesterday, then working with a resume writer is probably not going to be worth your time.
A resume writer can help you to clarify your goals and target your resume to the right jobs. But, a professional resume writer is not a career coach. A resume writer is there to help you capture your message in a way that makes sense for the applicant tracking systems and hiring managers.
The professional resume writer can help you word concepts in a way that makes sense, but you will need to give the professional resume writer some direction in the process. And, if you aren't able to do that, then you probably aren't ready to work with a resume writing service.
A resume writer can help you to create an effective resume. However, they cannot do the work for you. You need to be willing to put in the time and effort to create a well-written and targeted resume. This means providing the details about your achievements, answering questions, and providing clear feedback on the drafts prepared by the professional resume expert. You cannot expect someone to do this for you. So, if you're not willing to do the work, then working with a resume writer is probably not going to be worth your time or money.
There are a lot of resume writing services that focus on the design of the resume and not the content. While it is important to have a well-designed resume, the words on that resume are going to serve as the talking points for your interview and spark questions by the people interviewing you. Make sure that you get a resume that gets you interviews and sets the tone for those conversations. A resume writing service that is focused on the design and not the purpose of the resume is probably not worth the money.
A resume is with you through the entire hiring process. It needs to get through the ATS, but a well-written resume should also connect with the different types of people that will skim it through the interviewing process. All of these people are looking for something different.
So, a resume writer that hasn't worked in HR or recruiting will not know what those people are looking for or how that process really works. And, this experience or insight is critical to ensuring that your resume works through to build a resume that helps you to land the job. And, if the resume writer doesn't have this experience or knowledge, then they probably aren't worth your time or money.
While there are times when it may not be worth your time or money to hire a professional resume writer, there are also many instances where working with a resume writing service can be helpful.
If you have a lot of experience, then it can be difficult to decide what experiences and accomplishments to include on your resume and how to word those items. A professional resume writer can help you to determine which experiences are most relevant and how to word them so that they capture the attention of the reader.
They are able to objectively review your experience and they know what others do at similar points in their careers. This kind of insight can be invaluable and hard to do on your own. This kind of collaboration can make it worth it for someone to work with a resume writer.
Making a career change is hard. And, your resume is going to be the first step in that process. If you're looking to make a complete career change, then working with a professional resume writer can give you the guidance and direction that you need to get started on the right foot.
A resume writer will know how to target your resume for the new industry and position that you are seeking. They will also be able to help you to create a brand for yourself in your new field. This can make working with a resume writer worth it as you're making a complete career change.
People who have progressed or stayed at the same company for several years frequently do not keep their resumes up to date. They also don't always know how to position that experience externally. In this case, it can be worth it to work with a resume writing service to build a message for your external job search.
A professional resume writer will know how to take your experience and target it so that it shows how you've grown and changed over the years. They can work with you to reframe that experience in a way that effectively positions you in the current job market. Your resume writer should also be able to help you define and capture those results into clear achievement bullets for your resume. If you need help with capturing your experience or recalling those achievements, then working with a resume writer can be worth it.
As you move up in your career, the stakes become higher. And, the competition becomes stiffer. If you're applying for senior-level positions, then you need a resume that is going to reflect your experience and accomplishments in the most favorable light possible.
A professional resume writer may be able to help you distill your leadership message and to capture the relevant achievements that illustrate your message on the resume. Delegating this part of your search to the professional that does this all the time also enables you to focus your job search time on the things that only you can do - like networking and interviewing.
Having some sense of what you want to apply to can make a difference in the ability of your resume writer to understand what is relevant and what keywords to use. The resume writer can help guide you through this process and capture the core themes on your resume that will help you stand out for the types of jobs that you will generally pursue.
You don't have to know exactly what jobs you will apply to in order to engage a professional resume writer. But, when you do have some direction or know what your strengths are, then it can make a lot of sense to work with a resume writer to build the message to start the process of applying.
There are also some times when it is definitely worth engaging a professional resume writer to create your message. Here are the times when you should invest in working with a resume writing expert.
If you find that you just don't have the time to sit down and write your resume, then it can be worth it to outsource this task. Delegating the responsibility of writing your resume to someone else will free up your time so that you can focus on other aspects of your job search. This could be networking, looking at job postings, preparing for interviews, or even just keeping your current job. Whatever it is, by letting someone who writes resumes all day every day, you will likely have a better message than if you were to spend the time trying to do it yourself.
If you have been job searching for a while and feel like you're not getting any traction, it might be time to consider a professional resume writer. You will know the time has come to work with someone if you have applied to several jobs that you are qualified for and haven't received any requests for an interview.
A professional resume writer will be able to look at your resume quickly and create a resume that gets the interviews. They know what keywords to use, how to structure your resume, and how to address the questions that will come up in your interviews. So, if you have been applying and you aren't getting responses, then the time has come to work with a professional resume writing service.
There are certain times when you just really want the job. Maybe it is your dream job, or maybe it is a job that will help you get to the next level in your career. Whatever the case may be, if you really want the job, then working with a professional resume writer can give you an edge over the competition.
A professional resume writer will be able to take your experience and accomplishments and craft a message that is tailored to the job that you are applying for. They will also be able to help you target your resume so that it speaks directly to the needs of the employer. This could be the difference between getting an interview and not getting one.
A lot of people took career breaks as a result of COVID (intentionally or not). If you are someone that is coming back to the workforce after a break, then working with a professional resume writer can be important to message your experience the right way for the current market.
A professional resume writer will be able to take your unique circumstances and create a message that will get you interviews. For example, if you have been staying at home with your children for the past few years, a professional resume writer can help you message your experience in a way that will appeal to employers.
A resume writing service that takes the time to understand your experience is worth the price. They will know what you have done and how to position it on your resume.
The time spent collaborating with you through the drafting and editing process of building your resume is valuable. You will know how others may perceive your experience and how to proactively position yourself in the interviews. Thus, a resume writing service that works with you until you are satisfied with the resume is definitely worth the investment because it will help you get the interview and in the initial interview preparations.
As noted above, a professional resume writer needs to know how to format your resume so that it can get through the Applicant Tracking Systems. They will also be able to help you with the keywording and other factors that will help your resume make it to the top of the pile.
In addition, a professional resume writer should also know what recruiters and hiring managers are looking for after the resume gets through the screening process. A comprehensive view of how to build a resume and how it gets used means that working with the resume writer is definitely worth it.
Money can be a big motivator for people to change jobs. If this is a factor in your job search, then working with a professional resume writer is worth it. The resume writing service will build you a message that conveys your achievements in a way that helps you stand out to the hiring managers so that you can get better-paying offers.
For example, clients of The Contingent Plan have received more job offers and offers with 15% higher compensation. So, if you want to have more offers on the table for higher salaries, it is definitely worth it to work with the right resume writing service.
]]>To understand why an ATS compliant resume is so important, you first need to know how they work and what they are. The applicant tracking system is simply the software that employers use to sort, scan, and manage the candidates for their open positions. In fact, there are over 900 ATS programs that are used commercially right now. There are countless more programs that are unique to the company or that have been highly customized.
Over 95% of all Fortune 500 companies report using an ATS in their hiring process. Over 50% of all other companies use some kind of ATS as well. The complexity and functionality of these programs can vary dramatically. But, they are all driven by keywords. These systems will scan the resumes for these keywords and provide the employer with details about your qualifications as a candidate based on how it reads the words on your resume.
An average of 70% of resumes submitted to open positions get stuck in the proverbial black hole - never to be see by a person. In many cases, this is because the person doesn't have the right information on the resume or in a way that the ATS can read it. These bots cannot make inferences and they are highly customizable. So, here is the checklist to make sure that your resume is ATS compliant for your next job application.
The best choice of file format is typically a pdf. Do not submit a word, google docs, or pages file when applying to a position unless it is explicitly requested. Using a pdf format prevents the compatibility issues that can happen with the other types of files. This is particularly true with pages or google docs as not every company has access to the systems that are required to view those file types. Moreover, the ATS tend to be quite slow in adapting to file types and cannot always parse the alternative file formats.
Keep in mind that those other formats are for you - so you can edit the resume. But, you don't want people to edit them once you hit submit. These other file formats also include a lot of data about who created them, when they were created, and how long it took to edit them. You don't always want the potential employer to see this information. So, convert the resume file to a pdf before you hit submit.
Remove any information in the header and footer if possible. The ATS cannot and in most cases (is configured to not) parse the data in those fields. So, make sure to remove that information from the header and footer files whenever possible. This is particularly true if you are required to submit the file in .doc format.
This is the most important step of your resume. Make sure that you have included all of the relevant keywords and concepts on your resume. This information needs to be conveyed in an easily digestible way by the ATS and by the person that is skimming your resume. So, you cannot just create lists of keywords. Instead, you need to incorporate the keywords and concepts ACROSS your resume.
Putting keywords across your resume requires some strategy. It means that you need to have the right keywords for the types of jobs that you are pursuing and that they are used properly. The use across your resume is important because it prevents the phrases from being excluded arbitrarily by character limits or fields that may be configured to fully capture all of your information.
Remember that some keywords may require variations to best convey the right messages for your application. For example, people may use "attorney" and "lawyer" interchangeably. The phrases mean the same thing to most people, but the system may be looking for one version of this concept and not the other one. Thus, you should not pick one variant and stick with it. Instead, generally, it is better to intentionally use the variants on your resume so that you can match the ATS algorithms.
Most applicant tracking systems cannot parse resumes with heavy formatting or a lot of style elements. Instead, the ATS is programmed to find the words on the page. It cannot work properly to read your resume if you have a lot of formatting or style on your resume. Keep your resume simple in terms of formatting so that the concepts can be found by the bots.
However, you have to remember that the goal of getting past the bots is to get your resume in front of a person. So, you DO NOT want to create a file that only works for the bots. Instead, make sure that the file is simple in terms of formatting but that it is still visually appealing to a person. And, remember that you are not building this resume for yourself. Instead, you are building it for the hiring manager and talent acquisition team that will skim your resume for details. So, make sure that you cover all of the information that people may want to see on your resume in a way that anyone could find it and understand it quickly.
Putting graphics to visualize your experience or including a picture of yourself will only hinder your applications. The applicant tracking systems can't interpret most images because they are built to parse for the words on the resume. Similarly, there are also programs that are designed to remove pictures and other details that could create bias in the review of your application. So, for resumes that will go through the ATS, the safest strategy is to remove these items so that you can make room for the information that matters in the process.
Clarity in your experience is key to ensuring that your resume is ATS optimized. For this, you must put job titles, company names, times in the roles, degree names, educational institutions, software experience, etc. Basically, all of the specifics for your professional experience. Choosing to leave off this information will only result in you being viewed as unqualified by the ATS for the job.
The other most important detail to include is your contact information. You could have the best, most relevant experience on your resume. But, if the employer can't contact you for an interview, then it won't matter. It may seem obvious, but make sure that you have your name, city, state, zip, phone, and email on your resume. These are the basic details needed to contact you for the interview and, in many cases, that enable you to show up in geography-based searches of the ATS
The ATS may be a bot, but it is not a mind reader. In most cases, the systems cannot make inferences about your skills if the content is not plainly on the page. Thus, you must take the time to cover the details on your resume to show that you have the skills and achievements necessary to be viewed as qualified for the job. Take the time to read your resume one more time before hitting submit to ensure that you have all of the relevant details on it for the position/company that you are applying to.
This is also important for the people that will skim your resume after it clears the ATS. Studies consistently show that people spend about 6 seconds before they make their mind up about a candidate. They may take a little more time to read further, but this is typically to confirm the decision they already made about the person. So, you need to have the right information on the page for someone skimming your resume to find it quickly or you will definitely be passed over.
The next step to creating an ATS-compliant resume is to ensure that all of the minimum and preferred qualifications outline in the job posting are explicitly addressed on your resume. As noted above, the systems will not make inferences about your abilities. Instead, the resume needs to plainly address the requirements of the job on its face whenever possible. This can mean that you may need to modify your resume for specific jobs to cover unique qualifications. Or, you may be able to use a resume that is built for that job type. However, you cannot get through the ATS bots if you do not have the minimum requirements on your resume.
This can be particularly challenging when trying to change your career. The key, in this case, is to focus or reframe your experience whenever you can in a way that the applicant tracking systems can understand while remaining honest in communicating your background. If you find that you can't do this effectively or that you are consistently being rejected, then you may want to re-evaluate your search strategies so that you are focused on the right types of jobs in your career switch.
The resume needs to focus on the types of jobs that you are applying to. If your resume contains a lot of concepts that aren't directly relevant to your current job search, the ATS will likely pick these up as the wrong types of skills. Or, you will get flagged as unqualified. In either case, these skills that aren't relevant will take up the space that probably needs to be used for concepts that should be fleshed out. So, take the time to review your resume to ensure that all of the keywords, achievements, and responsibilities are relevant to the types of jobs that you are now pursuing. If they aren't they should be removed and replaced with content that will advance your current efforts.
Most importantly, make sure that you follow each and every direction in the job postings that you are applying to. Meaning that you complete each and every step that is requested when submitting your application. This can mean a particular file type, sending emails, completing additional assessments, filling out more fields, etc. This is important to ensure that your application isn't rejected by the ATS as incomplete or for a failure to follow directions. It is ok if you don't want to follow these directions or if you find that they are too cumbersome. But, if you choose not to follow them on the resume or in the submission of your application then you will likely end up quickly rejected by the applicant tracking systems.
And, remember, every step in the hiring process is a test of your skills. Make sure that you are showing the people behind the ATS how you use your skills in the process of pursuing the job. For example, if you say on your resume that you are detailed, but you fail to follow the directions in the application. You can almost guarantee that the person behind the ATS that skims your application will reject you for this reason.
Need help building an ATS-optimized resume? Get help from an expert in your field today. Learn More.
]]>Fundamentally, a resume is a marketing piece. It is intended to outline the details of your experience in a way that positions you as a fit for the open job. The resume will contain all the salient details about your professional experience, credentials, and timeline. However, it is not a historical report that outlines everything you have ever done. Instead, it is typically a 1 - 3 page document that is focused on your relevant information for the types of jobs you are pursuing. Nearly 100% of all Fortune 100 companies use an applicant tracking system (ATS) and nearly 70% of all other employers are using an ATS of some form. Thus, most employers in the US are using systems that scan the resume for keywords, job titles, and preset commands to make determinations on your qualifications before a person reviews the resume.
Alternatively, the cover letter is a brief summary of your experience that tells your story. It should tell the person (not the ATS) your story and why you are qualified and interested in the position. The cover letter typically goes in a different place in the ATS where it is not scanned for keywords. However, the cover letter will often include the keywords to answer the question "Why Hire Me for this Role?"
The resume is the meat and potatoes of your experience. It should include all of the details about your experience. Specifics should include what you did, where you did it, when it occurred and your responsibilities.
Most companies will parse the resume through the ATS. This means that the resume should be ATS friendly in order to avoid rejection. Thus, you will want to minimize the graphics and focus on the words on the page. This also means that the keywords on the resume are the most important to get through the bots. However, you cannot simply keyword pack your resume as the goal is to have a person ultimately read your resume in order to get the interview. (Want to know how to beat the ATS? Check out this blog)
The details that SHOULD go in the resume are:
*Your contact information
*Job Titles, Companies Where You Worked, Time in the Roles
*Education Details
*Certifications, Licenses, and Additional Training
*Software or Technical Skills
*Language Abilities
*Achievements
*Responsibilities
*Anything else that is helpful to the audience to show that you are qualified for the job that you are applying to
A cover letter is much, much shorter than a resume. It is typically no more than a single page. A cover letter should tell your story and it should not merely repeat the details in your resume. Instead, the cover letter should answer the big Why questions:
*Why are you applying?
*Why are you interested in this job?
*Why do you think that you are qualified for this job?
*Why should we hire you?
That's a lot to cover on a single page. So, focus on covering the highlights and think about it in terms of a written interview. Give enough information to peak the person's interest (not the ATS as cover letters are hardly parsed for keywords), but don't cover everything. Keep your cover letter focused on the salient details to grab the person's attention without boring them.
Cover letters aren't as important as they used to be. But, you can find more details on how to make that cover letter stand out here.
Neither document is built in a vacuum. Meaning that they are both parts of a whole and you should expect that the same person will read both documents. People don't always read (or even see) the cover letter. However, you should prepare both documents with the expectation that they will be viewed together. Thus, you should create a similar aesthetic so that the person skimming both will quickly see that they come from the same person.
You should also expect that the documents will be separated from each other in the hiring process. Thus, the documents should be able to stand on their own and be built with the ability to proceed through the hiring process accordingly. This means that you have your contact details on both documents so they can be tied back together if needed. On the cover letter, you will reference your resume and specific examples from it to illustrate your answers to those big why questions. You will also want to tie those skills together with results from the resume to show how you have demonstrated them in the past.
The resume and cover letter should never be complete mirrors of each other. However, it is ok (and expected) that they will overlap because they both convey information about your personal experience. They should both be consistent, reference details, and provide a cohesive message as to your qualifications for the job that you are pursuing.
Need help building a professional resume and cover letter? Have an expert in your field build a compelling cover letter and ATS optimized resume today! Shop Now.
]]>There are tons of free resources out there to create your own resume. Microsoft Word and Google Docs even have pre-built resume templates that you can use to create your own resume. These endless options and the ability to sit down and create your resume can make this the right option for many job seekers. Here are some of the other advantages to building your own resume:
Creating your own resume is often the best fit for people when:
Building your own resume isn't the best option for everyone. Here are the times when you shouldn't build your own resume:
If creating a resume isn't the best fit for you, then consider the following alternatives.
A resume builder is a system or tool that will automatically generate the resume for you based on your provided information. There are many options online that provide such pre-designed resumes. Many job boards will also create a resume for you at no charge using their pre-designed resume template. In fact, job boards like Indeed and LinkedIn will create and automatically send their "resumes" when you hit "Easy Apply" or "Quick Apply." You will not even have an option to use the resume that you created outside of the job board in those cases.
So, what are the benefits of using an online resume builder?
Online resume builders are often the best fit for people with basic resumes or straightforward experience. These systems have tools that you can use to create a new resume and a lot of the basic information to walk you through that process. You will get to create the resume exactly how you want and have some guidance in that process with the pre-designed styles and templates.
Online resume builders aren't a fit for everyone. People who typically see limited results from a resume created by an online resume builder are:
The purpose of a resume is to market you for the jobs that you want so that you can get interviews for the jobs that you apply to. So, a company that specializes in writing professional resumes offers benefits that DIY and online resume builders cannot. In fact, a study by The Contingent Plan shows that people that had a professionally created resume landed 2x more interviews and their job searches were 40% shorter than their DIY counterparts. Plus, the job offers that people received with professionally written resumes were higher in compensation.
Here are some of the additional benefits of a professionally written resume:
A professional resume writing service is not right for everyone. Here are some of the times when working with a professional resume writing service isn't the best option for people:
Best for:
The people that will find the most benefit out of working with a professional resume writing service like The Contingent Plan are those that are ready to look for a new job. Job seekers that will apply to the position online or that will go through the HR processes will benefit the most from working with a professional resume writing service. As noted above, people who work with resume writing services land interviews faster and higher-paying job offers. So, if you are ready to make a move and you want to put the best options on the table for your career, then the investment in a professionally written resume is well worth it for most professionals.
Our team of professional resume writers and executive resume writers can create you a resume that gets more interviews. Get help now.
]]>The government is a large employer, with many different types of jobs available. It can be overwhelming to try and search for government jobs without having a specific focus. The job titles with the government can be quite different than the private sector. So, you will want to explore the options before making your decision about what types of roles you want to pursue in the government.
Before you start your job search, take some time to think about what type of government job you are interested in. What skills do you have that would make you a good fit for the job? Once you have a focus, you can start to narrow down your search.
There are many different government job websites that you can use to find open positions. USAJobs.gov is a great place to start your search. This website is the official job site for the federal government, and it lists all of the open positions in the government. You can search by job title, agency, or location.
Another great resource for finding government jobs is the state government careers site or your local city/county government. These levels of government have a number of jobs available and they can have a greater impact on your community.
Once you have found a few government job openings that interest you, it is time to start applying.
The government hiring process is different than the private sector. In the private sector, you can get the job through employee referrals or other avenues. However, in the government hiring process, it can be a much stricter qualification basis. This means that the candidate must meet the exact requirements listed in the job description. You cannot move through the government hiring process unless your resume and application materials clearly demonstrate how you meet the requirements for the job.
The government hiring process will also provide preferences for certain categories of candidates. This includes military service, military spouses, disabled veterans, Native Americans, residency, and other preferences. These preferences can vary considerably at different levels of the government. So, make sure you know which preferences apply and clearly include your qualification for such preference on all of your application materials to ensure that you receive the appropriate credit.
Now that you know the types of government jobs that you want to pursue and how the hiring process works, you need to build your government resume to start applying.
In the government, your resume will be one of the most important pieces of application materials that you submit. Unlike in the private sector where a cover letter may be optional, in government, it is required.
Your resume should list all of your relevant work experience and education. It is also important to list any skills or qualifications that make you a good fit for the government job.
When you are writing your resume, make sure to tailor it to the government position that you are applying for. Highlight how your skills and qualifications meet the requirements of the job.
Additionally, be sure to use keywords related to the government job in your resume. This will help ensure that your resume is found when government recruiters are searching for qualified candidates.
Moreover, your federal government resume should list the particular experience or skill in each role where it was obtained. This may feel like a repetition, but the person reviewing your resume will have to measure your experience for the particular roles. Showing all of the skills and achievements across your career are important to get through the qualification process. Need help building your government resume? Get help now.
The key to any effective government job search is to apply to jobs. Most people need to apply for a lot of jobs in their government search. This is because there is a lot of competition for government jobs. You will have to apply to several positions if you want to make the move to the government sector.
You will also need to make sure that you are following all of the instructions in your applications. In many government jobs, there are additional application questions that must be completed in order to finalize your application.
What is unique about these questions is that most government agencies use these to screen candidates before they even look at the resumes. Thus, you must answer each question fully and separately in order to get through the screening process. You cannot simply answer these additional questions with "See resume." If you do so, you will almost always be rejected.
So, take the time to complete the answers to the additional questions and remember to save your answers for use with future applications to government positions. Want help with your answers to those additional application questions? Have an expert craft the perfect answers today.
The government hiring process can take a lot longer than the private sector. In many agencies, the people that review the applications cannot do so until the position officially closes. Unlike the private sector, this means that no one may look at your application until the application period closes.
And, when someone does look at your application, it can take a lot longer. The government does use technology to sort and review applications. However, someone is actually still reviewing the applications. And, as explained above, this person will almost always start with those additional questions to filter applicants.
Thus, the review process can involve 2 stages - the job application questions and the resume. From there, candidates are often notified that they have made the cut to the next stage. At that point, an interview is scheduled. The interviewing process can take time. And, there are often multiple interviews in the government hiring process.
In the private sector, there are also a number of interviews. But, in the private sector, there is often a greater sense of urgency in scheduling and completing the interviews. In the government, the interviewing process is a process. Thus, the hiring process will be determined and then followed - without a lot of deviation.
So, it is not uncommon for the government hiring process to take a lot longer. This complexity and time can be much greater at the federal level. In fact, it is not uncommon for some federal hiring processes to take 6+ months. So, make sure that you continue to apply to jobs in the meantime if you want to make the leap to government service.
The government hiring process will also frequently include additional testing and screening. This can include testing for skills, fitness for the job, character investigations, security clearances, and more.
Each agency is different in how they screen and test candidates. And, the form of the tests can vary tremendously between the levels of government and each agency. These tests can be in the form of an interview, reference checks, written tests, or online assessments. So, be prepared for whatever testing may come to ensure that you can make it to the next step in the hiring process.
The final step to landing a government job is to be ready for the interviews. The interviewing process in the government hiring process is different than the private sector. It can be structured differently and you can be asked different types of questions.
Make sure to do your research to prepare for the government interviewing process. And, in doing so, remember that how you answer questions should be different as well. Really, the motivations and evaluations of government employees are different than their counterparts.
For example, profits and product launches are no longer as important. Instead, the goal of government roles is often public service and engagement. Reframe your achievements in the private sector so that they can be clearly relevant in your government interview. Want help preparing for your upcoming government job interview? Work with one of our coaches to get expert advice now.
The government hiring process is long, but it is possible to land a government job. By following the steps above, you can increase your chances of success in getting a government position. Good luck!
]]>It is important to first understand why the difference exists between the government and private sector before addressing those differences. Most private sector companies apply a number of factors for their hiring process. This includes qualification for the job, fit, industry knowledge, and relationships. Hiring for many companies can also account for who you know as much as what you know when they evaluate candidates. This is not the case for the government agency that is hiring.
Agencies and departments at every level of government will hire based strictly on qualification for the job. This means that the person screening the resumes will do so based on the explicit language of the resume content. They may also review the additional applications before reviewing the resume to determine whether the person meets the minimum qualifications as set forth on the job announcement. If your answers to the job application questions or your resume do not explicitly articulate the requirements for the position, then you will be rejected. There will be no inferences, no accounting for industry knowledge, or who you know.
On the federal side of the government search and in many states/counties, there can be preferences applied to your application if you meet certain criteria. Preferences in government hiring are provided to groups like veterans, disabled veterans, military spouses, and American Indians. These preferences are weighted differently and are based on complex regulatory requirements. But, they fundamentally serve to give people meeting the criteria a boost over other applicants.
So, how does this difference in screening translate to the resume difference between the government and private sector?
Private sector resumes are much, much shorter than government resumes. Resumes in the private sector are intended to market the candidate for the job that they are applying to. They aren't a historical report, but the private sector resume does have talking points about the candidate's experience in a way that is relevant to the job they are now pursuing. Most private-sector resumes are 2 pages. A few private sector resumes are 3 pages, but those are typically reserved for people in scientific, technical, or high-level executive positions.
Government resumes are much longer. Most federal resumes are at least 4 - 5 pages (if not much, much longer). The resumes for county and state positions can be shorter than the federal resumes. But, they are still typically 3 pages or at least longer than the typical private sector resume. This additional length is to cover the level of detail required to stand out as more qualified than the competition. Most government jobs are extremely competitive. And, many of those positions were put on hold in 2020. So, the competition has only increased. In fact, many government positions will have at least 500 applicants if not 1,000 - 2,000.
Private sector resumes are scanned by applicant tracking systems (ATS). These ATS are different than the systems used by government agencies. There are over 900 ATS that are commercially used currently and even more systems that were built specifically for the employer. Many of these ATS used by the private sector is built on the US Department of Labor's databases including ONET, but some of them have crowdsourced or customized content. Thus, the formatting and the ability of the ATS to scan (and what they are scanning for) can vary considerably.
Government resumes are all scanned by pretty much the same technology. All federal agencies post their positions on USAJOBS.gov. As a result, all federal agencies receive their applicants through the same channels. But, the people beyond that technology process may be screening them differently based on the agency's needs.
State and local governments can receive their resumes through different channels depending on where they are located. All will use their own channels including the state or local job boards that are often powered by the same technologies. These systems are different than USAJOBS.gov. But, they will function similarly and will use much more uniform screening tools than those that are used in the private sector.
The government systems are more uniform in what they are scanning for, but they also have a lot of the same limitations. Meaning that they are not capable of reading complex graphics, heavy formatting, or other visuals on your resume. All government resumes must have straightforward text that is easy to screen for the requirements in the job descriptions.
Private sector resumes are screened by the applicant tracking systems that can all vary in terms of what keywords they will look for. These ATS are also looking for different keywords depending on the systems used by the particular employer and how it has been customized. Thus, you will want to disperse keywords across your resume while also keeping the resume easy for people to find the details that they want to find. You may also need to edit your resume for different keywords for the same type of role at different private sector organizations (or even sometimes at the same company).
Government resumes are screened somewhat by its technology, but they are more heavily reviewed by the people in HR to validate qualifications for the role. This is in part because of the role that preferences play in the hiring process. So, you will want to make sure that all of the required keywords and explicit job requirements are clearly articulated right away on the resume. You will also need to repeat them across the resume in every applicable role. Make sure that you are also putting them at the front of the sections and making them stand out so that the PERSON skimming your resume can quickly spot the important details.
Private sector resumes do not require the same level of detail that is needed for the government sector. As noted above, the typical private sector resume is 2 pages. This is because the private sector resume needs to focus on demonstrating qualification and fit for the particular role/company. You do not need to articulate all of the times that you have done a particular skill in the same way that is required for the government resume. Instead, the private sector resume needs to focus its message more like a marketing piece that positions you as the best candidate for the particular job at the particular company.
Government resumes must contain a lot of detail. Because of the steep competition for these roles and the strict qualification screening process, you must include all of the achievements obtained in each role. You must also articulate all of the skills and experiences gained in the particular role. The additional details about your supervisor, whether it was full-time or part-time, and your level in the organization can also matter for federal applications. The types of details and level of information generally expected for federal roles are explained on USAJOBS.gov here.
Generally, this means that you will not be summarizing anything on the government resume. Every job will need a description with details and all information about the skills, results, and responsibilities must be included. Although the expectation for detail may be shorter at the local and state level, it does not mean that you should skimp on the information. The competition is still quite strong and the hiring process is driven by qualification. Thus, to stand out for the state and local roles, you should still include any detail that could be relevant to the person screening your applications.
Private sector resumes and cover letters can be submitted on a rolling basis. There isn't a hard and fast rule when the application must be submitted. The priority of the role in the organization and the overall demands of the operation may dictate how and when candidates are screened, interviewed, and subsequently hired.
Government applications must be submitted prior to the application deadline. These closing dates are strict and no applications will be reviewed after that closing date. So, it is particularly important to get your materials in before the closing timeframe.
The timing of the deadlines in government hiring is also important to understand in order to most effectively complete your resume. For example, there will be times when you see a quick (like a few days) closing dates. This is typically because the agency must post the role publicly, but they already have an internal candidate in mind for the role. In that case, you should still apply if you are qualified for the role, but getting an interview may be challenging.
In other cases, you will see a shorter timeframe, like a week, for the position. This is a signal that the role is in high demand or that the agency expects a high volume of applications. In that case, it is better to get your application in sooner rather than at the end. This is because the candidate pool may close at a number of applicants rather than just the time deadline.
Finally, there are also government positions that have rolling deadlines. In that case, the position is being hired on an ongoing basis and has less of a priority than other roles. This does not mean that there are fewer applicants. It simply means there is a need to bring qualified candidates in regularly for the role or the agency. This may also be because the position is being hired in multiple locations and all of them need to be filled. In that case, you may need to indicate on your resume and/or cover letter which locations that you are open to when applying.
Feel like a lot? The professional resume writers at The Contingent Plan would love to help. Get started today!
]]>Before digging into what you need to know, it is important to first understand exactly what a federal resume is. A federal resume is a document that is used for job applications for positions with the United States government agencies. It includes detailed information about your work experience, education, and qualifications, along with other personal details needed for the application process.
Federal resumes contain the highest level of detail of any resume type or CV. They are not only a historical report but are used by the hiring team like a checklist to find all of the requirements from the job description to determine if you are qualified for the role. The resume is your one shot to show that you not only meet the requirements, but that you are one of the most qualified people for the opening under the government evaluation process.
How long should a federal resume be? The answer depends on your level of experience, credentials, and achievements. Most candidates for federal jobs are using resumes that are 5 - 10 pages long. This is far longer than your typical private sector resume which is 2- 3 pages max.
Federal jobs all require the candidates to provide a high level of detail for everything that they have done professionally that is relevant to the jobs that they are pursuing. In fact, some federal positions will explicitly prohibit resumes that are more than 5 pages. But, there are other federal jobs that want and require significantly more detail.
This is why most people are best served by having a short form (5 pages) and a long-form federal resume (as many pages as needed). Having a short-form and long-form federal resume will make your federal job search process easier and more efficient.
The format of a federal resume is chronology based but has a lot more details. Typical sections of a federal resume are:
You can also add other sections or subsections to these common sections of a federal resume. Ultimately, the content should be organized and make it easy for the person reading through it to see how you are qualified for the federal job that you are pursuing.
An important step that most applicants for a federal job overlook it to understand the job announcement. Take the time to read the job announcement. It will contain important information such as the job title, position requirements, qualifications, and application instructions. You should also take the time to read all additional items for the job including those additional questions. All of these pieces will have important information about the types of knowledge, skills, and responsibilities of the role.
Once you know this information, you will be able to properly customize your resume to the particular federal position. Analyzing the job announcement and identifying keywords is an essential part of tailoring your resume to the job requirements. Take the time to incorporate all of these details into your resume before applying. It is essential to do so to make sure that the person reviewing your resume understands that you have the skills required as it will be clearly spelled out on your resume.
Many federal jobs require applicants to answer additional questions in the application process. Your answers to these questions will be used to self-certify you for the position and particular salary level. These same questions will be reviewed by the person evaluating your application to determine whether you are qualified for the role and at what level.
Take the time when preparing your resume to also prepare these answers. Doing this legwork at this time will also enable you to properly include the details on your resume. This is key because the person who will evaluate your answers to the questions will go back and refer to your resume to find the relevant matching details. You may be disqualified from the position if they do not match up.
USAJOBS is the federal applicant tracking system used by federal HR professionals to filter candidates. Unlike the private sector, most federal recruiters are reviewing the resumes that are submitted. But, they do so as experts in hiring processes and not as experts in your profession or field. Meaning that they are relying on the job descriptions and the concepts or keywords in them to look for relevant skills.
These professionals do not necessarily know the private sector jargon or the specific lingo of any field. Thus, they may not be able to infer ideas or to create connections if the details are not plainly spelled out on your resume in a way that is similar to the description of the job that you are applying for.
Using the specific keywords or phrases from the job description will improve the performance of your federal resume. It will also help you to understand exactly how your experience translates to the needs of the specific federal job.
Sometimes, candidates will be flagged for copying/pasting from the job description. This happens most when the person does not take the time to translate the bullets from the job description to their experience in a relevant way. So, if you copy/paste, make sure you also synthesize that information in a relevant way and to ad results from such experiences.
In your federal resume, you should include every piece of information that qualifies you for the position you are applying for. The length is not restricted like in the private sector, so you really should include every single detail on your federal resume - as long as it is relevant to the job you are pursuing.
This includes work experience, education, skills, certifications, volunteer experience, military service, and awards. Be sure to use relevant keywords, achievements, and any other details that are specific to the job you are applying for to increase your chances of getting selected.
In many cases, the more the better to show on paper that you are qualified for the federal position that you are pursuing. And, if you do not include the detail on your resume, it will not be considered or deemed valid, so you must put it on your federal resume.
A federal resume is more than just a list of your work experience. It should showcase the achievements that make you different and unique. Achievements are the results that you obtained using the skills and knowledge that the job announcement requires. These statements should be included on your federal resume in bullet format under the respective roles where you obtained the result.
Achievement statements are best when they include specific details and numbers to illustrate the result. You should focus that statement on what you did and what the result was for the organization, program, or people served. The clarity in these statements will make it easy for you to stand out from others that have similar backgrounds.
Achievements are the hardest part of the resume to write for most people looking for federal jobs. Beyond the need to talk about yourself, you have to translate the private sector or nonprofit world jargon or motivations into a relevant impact statement. You may also not have the numbers or even remember all of the details of the initiative.
The way to overcome this limitation is to think about how you would explain that situation in an interview. Talk about the who, what, where, when, why, and how. Write it out and then consolidate those concepts into a single sentence for your resume.
Here are some additional Do's and Don'ts to Writing a Federal Resume:
The final step in writing a federal resume is to review it carefully. Go over it several times, checking for typos, grammatical errors, syntax, and punctuation. Ask for someone else to review your resume as well to make sure that you don't miss anything.
Many people will also ask for a professional, like resume writers at The Contingent Plan, to ensure that they capture everything on their federal resume. The value of working with someone to write your federal resume is to make sure that you capture all of the needed details. A good professional resume writer will work with you to understand your experience and to communicate the details on the draft in a way that is honest and that you can speak to. They will also help you edit your resume to make sure that you put the best foot forward for your application on usajobs.gov.
Good luck in your job search and make sure to stand out from the competition with a well-written resume that highlights your unique qualifications and achievements. With these tips, you can be confident that you have written an effective federal resume that will help you land a federal government job.
]]>The job interview is about you, not your company. This means that the person interviewing you will want to know more about you in the way you answer the questions. This can be hard when so much of what you have done as an entrepreneur is to build your company. But, keeping the focus on yourself or how you led people is key to making sure that you position the examples well in your interview.
Everyone has made mistakes or not achieved the best results. This is true of every entrepreneur. The person interviewing you for a job wants to know about the good and the bad. They don't want to know all the excuses or the nitty-gritty of the mistakes. But, they do want to know how you handled them and how you learned from those mistakes or disappointments. So, be ready with examples of both your highs and lows.
Answering the question "Why are you looking to make a change now?" Can be tricky for some entrepreneurs. The key for most is to keep the answer forward-looking while providing enough context on your business to show the person interviewing you that you are ready to join their team. You should also make sure to keep the answer positive in why you want to join their organization, but be careful not to look desperate in doing so.
If you're interviewing for a job that's related to your business, then you can expect to be asked questions about it. Be prepared to talk about your business in detail, including its successes and failures. This will show that you're knowledgeable about your industry and that you're able to think critically about your work, the industry, and how you fit into their organization.
If you are looking to change industries, you will still probably be asked about your business. In these answers, the industry jargon or your knowledge about it is less relevant. In this case, you should be ready to talk about your decision-making, your leadership style, and how you managed the business in a way that is relevant to the job that you are interviewing for.
As an entrepreneur, you're used to setting and achieving goals. In a job interview, you should be prepared to talk about your long-term career goals and how you plan on achieving them. This answer should also include an explanation of how those goals can be achieved if you get the job that you are interviewing for.
This will show that you're motivated and that you have a plan for your career and not that you are simply looking for a paycheck. Plus, this will let the interviewer know that you are looking to join their organization for a while rather than move on as soon as you can.
If you're interviewing for a job that requires you to manage a team, then you can expect to be asked situational questions about your experience leading a team. Be ready to talk about your leadership style and how you've motivated your team in the past. This will show that you're capable of managing people and that you're familiar with the challenges that come with leading a team.
In answering these questions, make sure that you provide details about who you managed, how many people, and how you made decisions. You should have examples ready of when people were promoted and when those people were fired. The key in all of these answers is to focus on how you handled the situations as a leader.
As an entrepreneur, you're used to being self-motivated. In a job interview, you should be prepared to talk about what motivates you to do your best work. This will show that you can be motivated to work for someone else.
Keep in mind that some people think that the reason you are an entrepreneur is that you can't work with others. So use this opportunity to convey how you have motivated yourself and your teams while serving as the business owner.
Many companies are focused as much on fit for their team as they are on the ability to do the job. This means that you will need to communicate how you do things including how you work with others in your answers. This answer should reflect that you can take direction from others in doing so and that you don't have to be the one deciding everything.
This is important if you are now interviewing to be an employee rather than a business owner. As a result, make sure to prepare your interview answers that are focused on how you do things and how you collaborate with others to make sure the right results are obtained.
The question about compensation will come up in your interview to move from business owner to employee. The way that most business owners think about compensation is different than employees, so answering this question can be challenging because your compensation as a business owner isn't relevant to answering the question in the job interview.
Instead, do your research. Find out what most people are paid for the type of job that you are interviewing for. Use that research in the interview if you need to. But, try to ask the person interviewing you about the compensation range if possible. The company has set a budget for the salary for the position and that could be different than your market research. So, cut to the point and ask the interviewer in a strategic way when possible to make sure the job is a fit for what you want next. And, think about that number in the context of the entire benefits package.
The point of a job interview is to show the person that you are meeting and that you are the best person for the job. You are also using the interview to determine if you want the job. Keep this in mind as you answer the questions.
Make sure that you are selling yourself and your experiences in each answer. But, you should also make sure to ask questions to understand the job. Just like selling in your business, you will need to now qualify the opportunity and sell yourself if you want the job.
These are just a few ways that entrepreneurs can use their experience to their advantage when seeking employment elsewhere. If you're an entrepreneur who's looking for a job, remember to be able to talk about your successes and failures, be prepared to answer questions about why you want a job, and be able to sell yourself confidently during interviews. By following these tips, you'll put yourself in a great position to succeed!
]]>A cover letter should tell your story. It should be no more than 1 page and it needs to convey the talking points to convince the person skimming it that you are worth interviewing. This can be a strategic place to answer some obvious questions and to engage the person in why you are a good fit.
The cover letter is not the place where you repeat the details found in your resume. Instead, this is where you tell the story behind the resume and why you want to make this change. Treat the cover letter more like a written interview to provide the person skimming it a glimpse into who you are and what you would say in the interview. Making this change in how you write the cover letter will enable you to spend less time on each one and to better prepare for your interviews.
Telling your entrepreneurial story can be challenging when it isn't favorable or relevant to what you want to do next. Instead, focus on what is relevant to the company that you are now applying to. This will enable you to focus your energy on what you are good at and enable you to stay positive.
The cover letter is also not your life story. Instead, you are using the cover letter to connect the dots between your role as a business owner and the position that you are now applying to. Make it easy for the person skimming (and skimming quickly) to see how you meet their needs and why you want the job.
This is a high-level story about why you are making the change and what your strengths are. You can deepen that message by incorporating examples or details from your resume on the cover letter. But, do not get stuck in the weeds. Instead, keep the cover letter forward-looking.
A smart entrepreneur will use the cover letter to answer some of the obvious questions from the recruiter or hiring manager. Doing this will enable you to address any red flags that may be raised about you in making the shift from owner to employee. Being proactive on the cover letter to acknowledge and address these items also enables you to showcase the skills that you may have already articulated on the resume.
Remember, that people will want to know the details about your experience and they will be looking at them from every angle to assess if you are a good fit for their open role. Thus, take initiative and address those items before they are asked in a way that creates a positive talking point for the interview whenever possible.
People don't read cover letters as much as they used to. But, when someone takes the time to look at a cover letter, they want to know why. Why are you interested in this job? Why do you want this job? And, why do you think you are a good fit?
So, make the person's job easy who is scanning your cover letter. The cover letter will go in a different place and isn't typically parsed for keywords by the applicant tracking system. But, people will be skimming it for some of the same concepts. So, layout the information in a way that positions you well for the role.
Be clear about what you did as a business owner and how that makes you a strong candidate for the open job. Explain how those skills as an entrepreneur will serve the company well and how that can make you a stronger fit for the role. Don't presume that people know anything about you or what your company does. Instead, be clear and lay this information out with plain language on your cover letter and on your executive resume.
Finally, and most importantly, make sure that you are focusing your cover letter on the person that will actually be skimming it. People would expect that a business owner will know how to tailor their cover letter for different jobs and companies. So, you shouldn't use the same cover letter for every single job at every company.
Instead, adapt that message to the particular company or job. Acknowledge your connections to the company or its product lines. Explain why you want the job and why you think that your executive experience will translate well to a corporate environment. Be clear on the cover letter what you are looking for when making this move and always try to come from a positive angle whenever possible.
Frame your cover letter toward the future by using examples about what you have done in your business and connect that to what you can do at their organization. Doing this will show that you aren't stuck or forced to find a job. Instead, it shows that you have done a lot and that you want to make this move because it is a smart move for both you and the company.
]]>The reason behind your intended shift from entrepreneur to an employee does matter. Not everyone's reasons are positive, but it is important to convey why you are interested in and committed to the shift now. You also do not need to tell every detail on your resume or cover letter about why you want to make this change. Instead, keep it positive and forward-thinking. The potential employer wants to know what you bring to the table and what you can help them to achieve. And, most importantly, that you are ready to work for someone else.
There can be a bias in hiring at some companies that an entrepreneur or small business owner isn't able to work well with others which is why they have been on their own. So, if part of your reason is that you want to work with part of a team again, then make sure that you articulate that on your resume and cover letter. If not, then make sure you include details about how you have led others and collaborated with larger organizations in the past whenever possible. This will help to set the tone for your interview so that you can elaborate more on why you want to take the next step in your journey and how that can fit into their organization.
The second big item to remember in building your entrepreneur to employee resume is that your audience isn't looking for an entrepreneur. They are looking for someone to do a job for their existing leadership team. They want a person that can do the job and that can be a strong part of their team. Remember who your audience is when building your resume so that all of the details on the resume can be viewed as positively as possible. This means shifting the way you talk about your achievements and responsibilities. Specifically, you will need to articulate them in a way that is more detailed. You will also need to shift from talking about your company and focus on your role in the results.
You wore a lot of hats as a small business owner in the operations of your company. Now, you are applying to jobs where you will probably be more focused in what you will do. This also means focusing the details of your experience on those that will be relevant to the types of roles where you will be applying. You do not want to be viewed as a jack of all trades and master of none. Instead, you should focus your resume on your strengths and the skills that you want to use more in your next step. This will make you appear as a stronger candidate for the roles that you are applying to and help you to get past the resume bots.
Most entrepreneurs start their businesses to solve a problem for customers. They aren't concerned with job titles or job descriptions. In fact, most small business owners will simply call themselves owners. But, when you decide to shift to a corporate employee role, that means that job titles and descriptions will matter. You will need to give yourself a title other than "Owner" to explain what you did on your resume in a way that will help your search. You will also need to articulate what you did in that role in a way that resonates with that job title.
You can't and shouldn't give yourself a title that doesn't connect with your current search. You also shouldn't skip over your time as an owner. You worked hard to build your business. To move from owner to employee, you simply need to reframe the way you talk about that experience. And, many larger organizations will appreciate your initiative to get things done and your creative problem-solving skills. Thus, dive deeper into what you did and how that connects to other organizations. You will improve the effectiveness of your resume by reassigning your title and connecting it with how other organizations think about it and it will help you to cast a wider net in your search.
Your results as a business owner and entrepreneur matter. Articulating what you did and how you did it can be the challenging part for most small business owners who are focused on the bigger picture rather than keeping track of everything they do. So, consider the following in putting together your achievement bullets for your entrepreneur resume:
The other part of your resume that any entrepreneur should include are details about their daily responsibilities in their role. These will undoubtedly be all over the board in a small business as most owners would fill in wherever needed to make things work. Consider the following to articulate your responsibilities in a relevant way on your entrepreneur to employee resume:
It may seem silly or a given that you have certain software skills or education. But, that simply isn't true. The computer systems will first scan your resume for these details and if these applicant tracking systems do not see the information, then you will be deemed unqualified for the role. In fact, some ATS programs may deem you as not having a high school diploma if you fail to include your education on your resume. So, make sure that you are including all of those potentially relevant details on your resume. Some of these additional details that can matter are: